Breast cancer survivors 'do not exercise enough'
Adults should exercise regularly, guidelines say
Exercise can aid recovery after breast cancer but many women are not active enough, a study suggests.
Being active is known to be beneficial but US researchers,
writing in the journal Cancer, said they had found many women did too
little.
Only a third met recommended activity levels.
UK breast cancer groups said women here also needed more support to keep active after having the disease.
Caroline Dalton,
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
The American study looked at the
pre and post-diagnosis exercise levels of 1,735 women aged 20-74 who
had breast cancer between 2008 and 2011 in North Carolina.
In the US and the UK, adults are recommended to do at least
150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of
vigorous-intensity physical activity each week.
But this study found only 35% of women who had experienced breast cancer met the physical activity guidelines.
'Helps patients cope'
In the UK, campaigners said women here also needed to exercise more.
Caroline Dalton, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said:
"Physical activity after a breast cancer diagnosis has been shown to
improve a patient's chances of survival and there is also some evidence
that it may help to reduce the risk of breast cancer returning.
"Keeping active may also help patients cope, both during and after treatment, by improving general health and wellbeing."
She added: "Although this study was conducted in America
rather than the UK, the results suggest that women who have received a
breast cancer diagnosis need better support to keep active."
"There are no specific guidelines in place at the moment to
tell us precisely how much physical activity is needed after a breast
cancer diagnosis, but Breakthrough Breast Cancer suggests aiming for 3.5
hours per week, after checking with your treatment team to see what is
appropriate for you."
Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer
Campaign, said: "This study serves as a reminder of how important it is
that women with breast cancer are made aware that physical activity can
improve their chances of survival.
"Recent research has shown that even small increases to the amount of
exercise done after a breast cancer diagnosis can give women a better
chance of survival.
"This is why it is essential that women are given a clear
written follow-up care plan, which should include practical advice about
diet and exercise."
“Start Quote
Although this study was conducted in America rather than the UK, the results suggest that women who have received a breast cancer diagnosis need better support to keep active”
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