At least 150 minutes of physical activity per week are enough to improve the quality of life, prevent tumors and increase survival in cancer patients. This is what emerges from the medical-scientific vademecum conducted by oncologists of the European Cancer Prevention Organization association chaired by the scientist and surgeon oncologist Campania, Young Course.
A real handbook, which contains years of studies and discoveries made by researchers and doctors from all over the world and which puts, in black and white, a scientific correlation between health and lifestyle, written by the Campania oncologist, Giovanni Corso, surgeon at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, president of the European Cancer Prevention Organization and member of the national commission of the Miur for the evaluation of research in all Italian universities in the medical scientific field, and by the immunologist and scientific collaborator of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, IRCCS IEO, Adriana Albini, head of the working group on oncological prevention of the American Association for Cancer Research, with the support of the epidemiologist Carlo la Vecchia and the group of doctors and scientists of the team of the association chaired by the Campania scientist.
"Often - explain the authors - we think that to preserve our health we need expensive drugs, complex supplements, pills and tablets. At the same time - add Corso and Albini - clinical studies reveal the great progress of surgery, radiotherapy, pharmacological therapy, but not enough is invested in correct information about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and correct habits that could reduce the incidence of many chronic diseases and 30% of the risk of getting cancer. In addition to abstaining from smoking and the action of a healthy diet, there is an ancient remedy whose benefits have always been known but of which only in the last few years has science managed to make a real scientific and "molecular" evaluation and it is physical activity understood as a recreational commitment and not necessarily as a competitive sport. Physical activity - explain the scientists of the European Cancer Prevention Organization - which sees among other sports, as life-saving activities walking, running, cycling, swimming, yoga, Pilates, gymnastics and weights, reduces the risk of heart disease, helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves metabolism, improves diabetes treatment, promotes muscle tone, strengthens bones and boosts the immune system. The vademecum - they say - brings together what years of work conducted by doctors and scientists affirm, demonstrating how a healthy physical activity of 90-150 minutes a week prolongs life, as confirmed by the WHO, in addition to psychological benefits such as stress reduction, reduction of depressive symptoms, regulation of the sleep-wake rhythm and improvement of cognitive function, provides significant help in the oncology field in terms of prevention of tumors and survival and fight against tumors in cancer patients".
And in the handbook drawn up by scientists and soon to be published in the official journal of the European Organization for Cancer Prevention, Albini and Corso draw up a list of benefits that healthy physical activity brings to patients such as: Prevention of tumor risk factors aggravated by overweight, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle; Prevention of relapses and progression; Increased survival; Protection from toxicities associated with therapy; Muscle strengthening and contrast to sarcopenia; Improved bone health; Reduction of lymphedema; Reduction of pain; Control of fatigue and Improved quality of life.
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