GEICAM reissues an infographic on the benefits of physical exercise for patients with breast cancer

MADRID, 6 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The GEICAM Breast Cancer Research Group has republished, on the occasion of the World Day of Physical Activity that is celebrated this Wednesday, an infographic on the benefits and recommendations regarding physical exercise for patients with this disease who are undergoing treatment or for those who have overcome it.

The group has prepared this document within the framework of the ‘Oncological Physical Exercise Project’, which has the triple objective of leading research on the benefits of this activity in the evolution of breast cancer, generating a network of specialists in the field and disseminate its advantages to patients, institutions and the general population.

One of the main contributions of GEICAM in the field of research is the epidemiological study ‘EpiGEICAM’, which reveals that the risk of Spanish women with a sedentary life of suffering from breast cancer is 71 percent higher than that of those who fulfill international recommendations for physical exercise (150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic physical activity each week) and that 13.8 percent of new cases could be avoided with physical activity.

This case-control research aims to study the role of reproductive factors and lifestyle, including the practice of physical exercise, the type of diet and alcohol consumption, in the development of breast cancer in Spain. . It involved 1,017 women recently diagnosed with this type of cancer and 1,017 women without the disease.

As indicated in the infographic, physical activity decreases feelings of cancer-related fatigue, improves quality of life, physical function, bone health, and sleep quality. It also helps reduce disorders such as anxiety and depression related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

In addition, progressive and supervised resistance exercise does not increase the risk or exacerbate the symptoms of lymphedema (one of the consequences of surgical treatment of breast cancer, which causes abnormal accumulation of fluid and macromolecules in the soft tissues due to an alteration in the transport capacity of the lymphatic system.

“Exercise contributes to improving body composition by reducing body fat, increasing muscle mass and strength levels, as well as improving bone density, increasing heart function, regulating blood glucose levels and insulin resistance , and regulate the inflammatory response and the immune system”, said coordinator of the GEICAM Physical Exercise Program in Oncology, María Alonso.

This activity is indicated for all types of patients, although it is necessary to individualize it according to the characteristics of each person, possible pathologies that they may suffer from and their state of physical fitness. In addition, it advises that the exercise is scheduled and controlled by a professional.

In general, whenever possible, you should do a minimum of 150 minutes a week of aerobic exercise and two sessions a week of strength exercise. Regarding the performance of the exercises by the patients, two other infographics prepared by the Group propose two tables, one at a basic level and one at an advanced level.

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