As you may all have seen, we have been working around the gym to raise some money for breast cancer. I found a good article this week about breast cancer and exercise and as training people into healthy lifestyles is our main goal at BBG, I thought the findings were quite interesting.

Many studies have found a link between regular exercise and a lower risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer or breast cancer coming back (recurrence). As a result, the American Cancer Society and many doctors recommend that women who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as those who haven’t, exercise regularly – about 4 to 5 hours per week at a moderate intensity level. (Brisk walking is considered moderate intensity exercise.)

In this article published by the breast cancer organisation, in which a study was carried out about the effects and benefits of exercise in breast cancer, the findings were the following:
• The link between regular exercise and lower breast cancer risk has been well documented, but doctors haven´t been sure how long women need to exercise before the benefits starts.
• A French study has found that postmenopausal women who exercised regularly in the 4 years had a lower risk of breast cancer than postmenopausal women who exercised less during the 4 years.
• They also found that postmenopausal women who had exercised regularly between 5 and 9 years earlier but were less active in the past 4 years, didn´t have a lower risk
• In another study published by the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, they found that women who exercised in the previous 4 years – the equivalent of walking about 4 hours per week – had a 10% lower risk of breast cancer than those who didn´t.

So, what conclusions can we find from these findings?

I think CONSISTENCY is the word. It´s something that we go on and on about in the gym and really is the key to success with getting fit, strong and healthy, not only for getting that feel-good factor on a day-to-day basis but protecting ourselves long-term from health conditions and illnesses like breast cancer and all other types of cancer, amongst others. Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you all in the gym, doing your bit for breast cancer on the rower!

Tilly Kyle
Personal Trainer, Sevenoaks