Natural Cancer Remedies

Physical Activity

One of the most effective natural cancer remedies available is completely free – all you need is the will to do it. This completely free natural cancer remedy is physical activity. You might think of this as exercise but it is more than exercise, it is every aspect of movement you do. (Also look at the other Natural Cancer Remedies.)

Physical activity has been shown to prevent cancer, to reduce the chances of it returning and to slow the impact if it has started to spread. The physical activity of interest to the person who is ill is not the vague wander to the TV set but any activity which raises the heart rate to the point the person is starting to sweat.

How effective is it?

• Colon cancer. There is convincing evidence that the chance of getting cancer of the colon is reduced by exercise with an average risk reduction of 40-50%. 43 out of 51 studies showed positive outcomes.
• As the 5-year survival rate of those with stage III colon cancer is about 30-50% that means that almost half of the 50-70% of those who would otherwise die (25-35%) survive if they undertake at least 6 hours of exercise per week (compared to an additional 1-2% with adjuvant chemotherapy).
• Breast cancer. There is convincing evidence that breast cancer is reduced with over 20 studies showing the association between lack of exercise and getting the disease. There is an average risk reduction of 30-40%. 32 out of 44 studies showed this.
• Breast cancer. There is also evidence from a study that showed that exercise after diagnosis reduces the spread of cancer and increased survival rates by 50%. This is 50% of those who might otherwise die – that is, if 15-22% die before 5 years, then 7.5% to 11% have increased survival to five years – which compared to the 1.5% additional survival from chemotherapy is large.
• In prostate cancer there is enough evidence to say that exercise probably is effective. 17 studies out of 30 studies showed this.In lung cancer and endometrial cancer there is evidence to say exercise possibly helps.
• There is insufficient evidence to show that exercise is helpful in the case of cancer of testis (3 out of 9 studies were supportive), ovary (3 out of 7 studies), kidney (2 out of 6 studies), pancreas (3 out of 3 studies), thyroid (2 out of 2 studies), melanoma (2 out of 2 studies were supportive).

Over all it is pretty conclusive – exercise improves your health. It reduces the chances of getting sick and it improves your chances of survival if you do become ill.

Frequently asked questions

I’ve always been physically active but I still got cancer – what do your figures say about that?

The figures don’t say you will never get cancer if you are active, they just say that you are LESS likely to get it by about 30-40%. If you do get cancer then being active will help your general health and for many cancers it has been shown to have a positive effect on lengthening your survival time.

Does this mean I really should go to the gym?

Not necessarily – the most important thing is for you to do a minimum of 6 hours a week of exercise to the level where you are sweating slightly. If the only exercise you are going to get is by going to the gym then do it, but it is perfectly possible to get your exercise by going dancing, walking, vigorously weeding the garden, vigorous house and yard tidying or anything else that gets you to lift, carry and move.

How much exercise should I do?

If you are really ill, then see below.

If you feel reasonably well, then start with 3 hours a week, and then work to increase it up to 6 hours per week. If you are not active start with 30 minutes, 6 times a week, or 40 minutes five times a week, then increase the time you have depending on your life circumstances. Get Moving and Get to SIX Hours of Exercise ASAP!

I feel really ill - what about exercise when you are ill?

The most important aspect for you is to listen to your own Inner Wisdom. There are times when it is going to be important to push your limits. There are other times when you should definitely relax and enjoy doing nothing – or let's be realistic, just lie there during the difficult times.

How much you do will depend on how ill you are. For some it will be a challenge and an accomplishment just getting to the toilet, or to the doorway. At other times it might be getting to the front door or the gate or to tidy a cupboard. Do what you can, when you can, but don’t push it too hard unless your Inner Wisdom is really driving you to achieve.

What is this Inner Wisdom you are talking about?

Your Inner Wisdom is that greatest depth of wisdom within that can guide you – some like to call it their higher power – but regardless of what you call it, listen to the messages of your body.

One of the survivors in my study had a strong sense one morning as she lay there during her supposed last couple of weeks of life, “Get moving, get out of bed. If you don’t get out of bed today, you’ll just die without getting up again.” When she dragged herself out of bed it was the first step to her extended remission.

However please don’t just do it because she did it. Respond to your own Inner Wisdom – yours might want you to get rest today.

Please note: Exercise and physical activity of all sorts is just one aspect of your natural cancer remedies. As you can see by the figures, activity by itself is not enough to prevent it or to cure cancer. However it is part of your total health package.

References – just a few relevant ones

Friedenreich, CM & Orenstein, MR. Physical activity and cancer prevention: etiologic evidence and biological mechanisms. The Journal of Nutrition 2002;132:3456S-3464S.

Holmes M, et al. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. JAMA 2005;293(20):2479-2486.

Meyerhardt, JA, et al. Impact of physical activity on cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer: findings from CALGB 89803. Journal of Clinical Oncology: 2006;24(22)3535-3541.

Morgan G, Ward R, Barton M. The contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies. Clinical Oncology 2004;16:549-560.