New research shows the healing power of exercise
Exercise and cancer recovery
Researchers are working to understand how physical activity helps fight cancer. Their findings so far suggest：
Exercise reduces blood levels of insulin， a substance in the body that causes cells to divide and grow more quickly. Women with high levels of insulin have a slightly high levels of insulin have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer and a much higher rate of recurrence and death.
Exercise helps repair infection-fighting T-cells， restoring the immune system after it has been damaged by chemotherapy.
Exercise reduces levels of circulating estrogen and testosterone， two hormones linked to different cancers.
Exercise prevents weight gain and promotes weight loss， important because obesity is associated with lower rates of survival for many forms of cancer.
The path back to health
Most of the scientific work so far has focused on women with breast cancer. But studies have also shown exercise has positive effects for survivors of colorectal and prostate cancers. Among men older than 65， three hours of vigorous activity a week was associated with a decline in death from prostate cancer.
Exercise is now considered so beneficial that cancer experts are even encouraging patients to begin or resume exercise while treatment is under way. Workouts might need to be scaled back in intensity and place， but |"evidence strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe and feasible during cancer treatment， but that it can also improve physical functioning and some aspects of quality of life，" according to the American Cancer society. When scar tissue forms after surgery， it limits flexibility. Exercise can help women who've had mastectomies and underarm incisions restore the range of motion.
Becoming active again， said one recovered cancer patient， helped her "realize that cancer is not a jail sentence. It's a big bump in the road. But you can find your new normal， and have a great life."
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Vocabulary Focus
restore （v）—— to return something to and earlier good condition
vigorous （adj）—— very forceful or energetic
scale back （phr v）—— to reduce something in size or amount
feasible （adj）—— possible or reasonable
jail sentence （n phr）—— a punishment that is suffered for a very long time
bump in the road（idiom）—— an unexpected， sometimes temporary， minor inconvenience
Specialized Terms
estrogen （n）—— a female hormone that causes development and change in the reproductive organs
testosterone （n）—— a male hormone that causes a stage of growth in older boys and change in their reproductive organs
mastectomy （n）—— a medical operation to remove a woman's breast
Exercise and cancer recovery
Researchers are working to understand how physical activity helps fight cancer. Their findings so far suggest：
Exercise reduces blood levels of insulin， a substance in the body that causes cells to divide and grow more quickly. Women with high levels of insulin have a slightly high levels of insulin have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer and a much higher rate of recurrence and death.
Exercise helps repair infection-fighting T-cells， restoring the immune system after it has been damaged by chemotherapy.
Exercise reduces levels of circulating estrogen and testosterone， two hormones linked to different cancers.
Exercise prevents weight gain and promotes weight loss， important because obesity is associated with lower rates of survival for many forms of cancer.
The path back to health
Most of the scientific work so far has focused on women with breast cancer. But studies have also shown exercise has positive effects for survivors of colorectal and prostate cancers. Among men older than 65， three hours of vigorous activity a week was associated with a decline in death from prostate cancer.
Exercise is now considered so beneficial that cancer experts are even encouraging patients to begin or resume exercise while treatment is under way. Workouts might need to be scaled back in intensity and place， but |"evidence strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe and feasible during cancer treatment， but that it can also improve physical functioning and some aspects of quality of life，" according to the American Cancer society. When scar tissue forms after surgery， it limits flexibility. Exercise can help women who've had mastectomies and underarm incisions restore the range of motion.
Becoming active again， said one recovered cancer patient， helped her "realize that cancer is not a jail sentence. It's a big bump in the road. But you can find your new normal， and have a great life."
-----------------------------
Vocabulary Focus
restore （v）—— to return something to and earlier good condition
vigorous （adj）—— very forceful or energetic
scale back （phr v）—— to reduce something in size or amount
feasible （adj）—— possible or reasonable
jail sentence （n phr）—— a punishment that is suffered for a very long time
bump in the road（idiom）—— an unexpected， sometimes temporary， minor inconvenience
Specialized Terms
estrogen （n）—— a female hormone that causes development and change in the reproductive organs
testosterone （n）—— a male hormone that causes a stage of growth in older boys and change in their reproductive organs
mastectomy （n）—— a medical operation to remove a woman's breast