Could the key to fighting cancer be as simple as targeted exercise to get your heart rate up? A study suggests that physical exercise could spark your body’s natural defenses against cancer cells, providing an effective therapy to fight cancer.
In a series of experiments, scientists observed mice with various types of cancer (including melanoma, lung, and liver cancers) that had access to running wheels. The results were astonishing: the active mice showed a dramatic reduction in tumor growth… over 60% less (!!!) compared to their sedentary peers. Even mice genetically predisposed to develop melanoma saw delays in tumor formation when they exercised.
But that’s not all. In mice prone to develop liver cancer, only 31% of those who exercised developed tumors, compared to a staggering 75% of the non-exercising group. In the case of lung cancer, running led to a remarkable reduction in tumor size by 58% and tumor weight by 56%. Even more striking, when aggressive melanoma cells were introduced into the bloodstream, wheel running dramatically reduced the spread of cancer to the lungs.
The Role of Natural Killer Cells in Cancer Prevention
Another remarkable discovery was that mice with lung cancer suffered from cancer cachexia (a severe wasting condition causing ongoing muscle and fat loss that can’t be reversed with nutrition), which was completely prevented in the exercising mice with tumors!
What’s the secret behind this effect? Physical exercise seems to awaken natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that seeks out and destroys cancer cells. When we exercise and our heart rate increases, adrenaline levels rise in our bloodstream. While this surge will energize and pump you up, it also mobilizes natural killer cells, sending them into action against tumors.
How Exercise Enhances Immune Response Against Cancer
Researchers discovered that exercise does more than increase natural killer cells in the bloodstream. Active muscles release a protein called IL-6, which acts as a messenger in the immune system. IL-6 guides these natural killer cells directly to tumors, enhancing their ability to detect and attack cancer cells. When scientists blocked the effects of adrenaline or IL-6 in mice, the cancer-fighting benefits disappeared. Moreover, exercise changed the environment inside tumors, making it easier for these immune cells to infiltrate and destroy cancer cells. So, exercise mobilizes natural killer cells, directs them to tumors, and makes tumors more susceptible to their attack.
Exercise to Fight Cancer: A Potential Therapy
Natural killer cells provide the initial “spark” that activates other immune cells for a more powerful and lasting attack on tumors. While many clinical trials focus on creating an inflammatory anti-tumor response through immunotherapies (immune checkpoint blockade), this study shows that exercise can also be a potential therapy. It increases immune cell infiltration and creates an inflammatory environment inside the tumor, helping to combat cancer.
Yes, I know, these findings are on mice, but human studies have also shown similar findings. Exercise can do more than simply lower the risk of developing cancer; it can also serve as a powerful therapy against existing cancer even when the cancer is advanced.
How to Use Exercise to Support Cancer Treatment
But here’s the catch: casual strolling might not be enough. To tap into these benefits, you need to engage in activities that raise your heart rate. That doesn’t mean you have to run marathons or engage in strenuous workouts. Even gentle sessions on a stationary bike or elliptical machine, adjusted to your fitness level and comfort, can make a significant difference.
So why wait? Your body has incredible abilities to protect and heal itself, and exercise can unlock those powers. Lace-up your sneakers, hop on that bike, and let your body’s natural defenses get to work. The fight against cancer could start with your next workout.
If you’re ready to take control of your health and incorporate targeted exercise that doesn’t just improve your fitness but also supports your cancer treatments and reduces their side-effects, start working with me today. I create personalized exercise and nutrition programs that will fit into your schedule and empower you to win back your health. Don’t settle for generic advice. You deserve a plan that considers every aspect of your condition, from fighting cancer cells to minimizing the side effects of treatments. This is your opportunity to invest in yourself, your health, your energy, your future.
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References
Pedersen, L., Idorn, M., Olofsson, G. H., Lauenborg, B., Nookaew, I., Hansen, R. H., Johannesen, H. H., Becker, J. C., Pedersen, K. S., Dethlefsen, C., Nielsen, J., Gehl, J., Pedersen, B. K., Thor Straten, P., & Hojman, P. (2016). Voluntary running suppresses tumor growth through epinephrine- and IL-6-dependent NK cell mobilization and redistribution. Cell Metabolism, 23(3), 554–562.