Exercise can prevent colon cancer among men

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer among men, but not among women.
We know some of the risk factors which can lead to cancer but less about the factors which can protect us against the disease. Doctors at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle now reveal that exercise can have a positive effect.

They looked at abnormal cell growth in colon tissue and found that among men who exercised on six days a week, there was more cell death activity. This meant that polyps that could lead to tumors were less likely to form. Similar activity was also seen in some men who exercised less but there was no such increase among women who exercised. The study involved 101 men and 98 women and is one of the first ever to look at the relationship between exercise and cancer. It is not clear, however, why exercise does not give women the same cancer prevention benefits as men.

Source
American Association for Cancer Research 14th November 2006

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