Breast Cancer: Move for the Cure

Just about everyone knows a loved one or someone who has been affected by breast cancer. October is "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" and even the NFL is getting into the act, by wear some form of pink. There are new treatments and research findings for breast cancer and you must stay aware and informed. Ladies, please get a mammogram and perform a regular self-examination, because we need you here with us.

For woman who are not getting enough exercise, here is some motivation. Not only does regular workouts cut your risk of breast cancer, but if you develop the disease, an active lifestyle will lower the chances of cancer's recurring. According to an article in the October issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, physical activity reduces your odds of getting breast cancer by up to 30%. As for a better prognosis, in a study of 1,225 women diagnosed with breast cancer (mean age: 56), those who had previously logged an average of at least 3.9 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week were 34% less likely to have their cancer return or spread than women who had the least active (clocking less than 1.4 hours a week of physical activity). "Other studies show that it's important to keep moving after a diagnosis, too," says lead author Christine Friedenreich, PhD. Exercise can help you keep from gaining weight and this will increase your chances of survival of this disease.