Gentle exercise could prevent 10,000 cases of breast and bowel cancer

Published on Monday 30 August 2010 14:09

THOUSANDS of cases of breast and bowel cancer could be prevented if people took more exercise, according to research published today.

Even 45 minutes of a simple activity such as housework could help, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) said.

Cancer experts estimate more than 10,000 cases of cancer in the UK could be prevented if people made small changes to their lifestyle.

According to the latest figures from NHS Scotland, more than 4,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and more than 3,000 people develop bowel cancer. One in three people in Scotland will develop some form of cancer at some time in their lives - but the WCRF said many of these cases could be prevented if only people adopted a healthier lifestyle.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science at the WCRF, said people should aim to be physically active for at least half an hour every day.

"There is now very strong evidence that being physically active is important for cancer prevention," she said.

"Even relatively modest increases in activity levels could prevent thousands of cancer cases in the UK every year.

"These figures also show you do not have to go to the gym every day to benefit.

"You can reduce your cancer risk just by making small changes, and this is highlighted by the fact that so many cancer cases could be prevented through something as simple as brisk walking."

Dr Thompson added: "By taking up walking as a hobby or even walking to the shops instead of taking the bus or car, people can make a real difference to their health."

Henry Scowcroft, science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "You don't have to be an athlete to reduce your cancer risk.

"There's solid evidence that certain cancers - including breast and bowel cancer - are less common in people who do regular, moderate exercise, such as brisk walking."

The WCRF research shows the importance of diet and exercise in lowering the risk of developing cancer. Exercise also cuts the risk of women developing womb cancer.

Moderate activity is any type of exertion that gets the heart beating faster and makes people breathe more deeply. Shorter bouts of exercise are just as effective as longer sessions - it is the total time spent on activity that is important.

The WCRF has launched its Walking Together campaign to raise awareness of the important role moderate physical activity has for cancer prevention.

The campaign involves people supporting WCRF by organising sponsored walks with family and friends. As well as raising funds, the campaign aims to encourage people to get into the kind of habits that can reduce their cancer risk.

Paul Fretwell, head of fundraising for the WCRF, said: "We are trying to promote the fact that, wherever you live in the UK, you are never that far away from somewhere nice to walk."

Meanwhile, a new centre that will help turn groundbreaking research into new drugs to treat deadly conditions such as cancer is being created in the North-east.

Aberdeen University is launching a drug-discovery venture to help convert the world-leading findings from the city's Institute of Medical Sciences, the Rowett Institute and Marine Bioscovery Centre into medicine and therapies.

The Kosterlitz Centre - named after one of the university's most famous professors - will link scientists and clinicians with pharmaceutical companies, inventors and even millionaire philanthropists who can help make their findings save lives.