Walking Can Decrease Breast Cancer Recurrence 40 Percent

When it comes to further minimizing the chance of breast cancer recurrence, Dr. Carolyn Kaelin, a Harvard surgeon, breast cancer survivor and author of The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Fitness Plan, says, “Brisk walking - about 3.0 mph on a treadmill - for three to five hours per week, or about 30 minutes a day, can net big benefits for breast cancer survivors.”

Kaelin, in conjunction with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) and CYBEX exercise equipment, is promoting brisk walking and the benefits of cardio exercise through CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October.

Research from The Nurses Health Study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) tracked nearly 3,000 women up to 14 years after their breast cancer diagnosis and found that cardiovascular and aerobic physical activities reduced the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence and increased the odds of living longer.

“Recurrence rates and deaths from breast cancer decreased by 40 percent among those who exercise at least 3-5 hours per week, compared with those who were sedentary,” Kaelin added. “It does not need to be running a marathon, or biking a century, but rather simply walking briskly most days on a treadmill, at a shopping mall or around a track, that further reduces breast cancer recurrence for those who have been treated for the condition. For all women, in addition to physical activity helping to optimize body weight and reduce high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, scientific research is more strongly pointing to the positive effects of cardio-vascular exercise in reducing breast cancer risk and the risks of other forms of cancer, too.”

The first-ever, custom-made pink treadmills have been produced by CYBEX, a leading manufacturer of exercise equipment, to log miles and raise funds for (BCRF). As part of the CYBEX Pink Ribbon run, the pink treadmills are being sold and installed in health clubs, YMCA’s, hotels and spas, student recreation centers, corporate employee gyms and other exercise facilities around the country. CYBEX will donate 10 cents for every mile logged on any pink CYBEX 750T treadmill throughout the month of October 2009 to BCRF.

“This is a great strategic alliance with corporate America and BCRF whose mission is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime,” states Myra J. Biblowit, President of the BCRF. “Partnering with CYBEX to promote the importance of exercise is a natural synergy and underscores BCRF's mission to provide critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research and to increase public awareness about good breast health.”

“There are hundreds of pink treadmills in fitness facilities that will raise funding for breast cancer research and we’re also conveying an important message on the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of breast cancer and for breast cancer survivors,” stated Joan Carter, Executive Director of the CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run.