A recent study suggest that regular exercising can help increase the body's immunity to cancer
Laura Bilek, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and her team of experts found, through a study of cancer survivors that regular exercise could help reduce cancer incidents.
The team had a group of 16 cancer survivors participate in a twelve week exercise program for their study. The T cells in the volunteers' blood were examined before the exercise course, and after it were completed.
The participants were all enrolled into 12-week exercise programs at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute. All programs were individualized for the study participants, incorporating elements of cardiovascular exercise, strength and endurance training, and exercises for flexibility, posture, and balance, with extra emphasis in areas where participants were weak.
Analysis showed that a large portion of the immune cells changed from a senescent form to a naïve form. This means that they went from a form that is not as efficient in fighting against cancer to a form that is prepared to protect against disease and infections.
"What we're suggesting is that with exercise, you might be getting rid of T cells that aren't helpful and making room for T cells that might be helpful," Bilek explained in a statement. "There's a litany of positive benefits from exercise.
"If exercise indeed strengthens the immune system and potentially improves cancer surveillance, it's one more thing we should educate patients about as a reason they should schedule regular activity throughout their day and make it a priority in their lives."
She adds, "This finding highlights the importance of exercise for all, including those with cancer and cancer survivors."
"These two populations might benefit especially from the heightened cancer surveillance -the ability of the immune system to seek out and destroy budding cancers-that this study suggests exercise brings," Bilek said.
