Exercise can reduce a smoker's risk of lung cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study shows that smokers who exercise have a reduced risk of lung cancer, although the benefit is marginal.
Smoking is the major risk factor for lung cancer but individual risk varies. Now, according to a report from the Iowa Women's Health Study, it appears that a smoker's level of exercise may at least partly explain this variation.

The researchers followed a group of more than 36,000 women from 1986, studying their habits and lifestyles. Women who smoke, but have a higher level of physical activity reduce their relative risk by 72 per cent. Moderate activity reduced relative risk by 65 per cent. In other words, a physically active smoker has a 35 per cent lower risk of lung cancer than a sedentary smoker. But, to put it in context, if both of them quit, their risk would be reduced about ten fold. So, although exercise is important for many reasons, the best way to avoid lung cancer is to quit smoking.

Source
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention December 2006

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