Fitness Helps Prevent Cancer

As I write this, Lance Armstrong is wearing the yellow jersey as the leader of the Tour de France. He already has won six years in a row, one more than anyone else ever achieved. Before winning cycling's biggest event, Lance had testicular cancer. It had spread to his stomach, lungs and brain. Few thought he would live. He didn't just survive, he went on to capture cycling's biggest prize six times in a row.

I'm not a doctor, but I doubt that anyone without Lance's bone-deep fitness before his cancer could have survived.

Now let's get to the good news. The doctors at the American Cancer Society tell us that fitness helps prevent cancer. As more studies are completed, more cancers are added to the list of those that have been proven to be impacted by fitness. This is the ACS's current list, alphabetically:

Get Fit If You Want to Avoid These

Breast Cancer*

Colon Cancer

Cancer of the Endometrium
(lining of the uterus)

Cancer of the Esophagus

Gall Bladder Cancer

Cancer of the Kidneys

Pancreatic Cancer

*Incidence of breast cancer is definitely reduced for post-menopausal women. Results are not yet definitive for younger women.

You can visit the American Cancer Society if you want to learn more. The bottom line: a healthy diet and ninety minutes a week of physical activity helps prevent cancer. A healthy diet and four hours a week of vigorous activity helps even more. Racquet sports are a form of vigorous activity.

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