Exercise to Reduce Your Risk of Uterine Cancer

New drugs and new technologies are being developed all the time with which to combat cancer, but it may be more cost effective to use good old fashioned exercise as a guard against cancer.

American scientists have found a strong link between exercise and a lower risk of developing uterine cancer.

In a previous study of 70,000 women, they found that the women who sat down for long periods of time increased their risk of getting uterine cancer.

Uterine cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and one of the top most common cancers and has risen in incidence being the second fastest rising cancer, with malignant melanoma in the lead.

Dr. Steven Moore, lead author of the study from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said: “Physical activity is known to reduce risk for breast and colon cancer, and now our study has found that physical activity can reduce risk for womb cancer as well. We already knew that maintaining a healthy body weight is an important way to reduce the risk of womb cancer, but our study showed that physical activity has a protective effect of its own.

“Interestingly, we also found a link between total time spent sitting and womb cancer. Spending less time sitting and more time on your feet may complement exercise as a way of preventing the disease.

“Further research is needed to discover how different types, levels and amounts of physical activity affect a woman’s chance of developing the disease.”

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s Director of Health Information, said: “This new research provides clear evidence that the more active women are – and the less time they spend sitting down – the less likely they are to develop womb cancer. This may be because exercise and activity reduces levels of the sex hormone oestrogen. Overexposure to oestrogen can increase the risk of the disease. Keeping active and doing plenty of exercise as well as spending more time on your feet will help reduce the risk of womb cancer.”

Source: British Journal of Cancer Press Release, 29th September 2010.

Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/. She is author of the book, 'Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation,' and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting, in addition to running a charity for people damaged by vaccines or medical mistakes.