Now let's move onto this next
segment so you see that right there
exercise for cancer prevention.
So if in case you needed one more
reason to get out and exercise,
here's a really good one,
and we have a doctor joining us this morning.
Doctor Thomas, who is joining us right now.
Good morning to you from Scripps,
MD Anderson Cancer Center,
Scripps Clinic physician.
How are you doing, Sir?
Hi, thank you for having me this.
No, we're glad to have you 'cause
this is an important new study that
I think perks up a lot of ears.
So exercise for cancer prevention of course.
So many people hoping to
prevent getting cancer.
So tell us what this new study is,
how much exercise are we talking about?
Well, this is an exciting news because
it starts to quantify the benefits of
exercise with respect to prevention.
For awhile now, that exercise is beneficial
in preventing certain types of cancers,
but this new study is that 300 minutes
or five hours a day of moderate size
can prevent almost 4546 thousand new
camp cases in the United States.
I the audio was cutting out a little doctor.
I apologize how many hours a day.
Uh, it it could be an hour
for the week or 45 minutes,
seven days a week of moderate exercise.
OK, will help to prevent a
significant number of cancers.
Gotcha, gotcha? So five hours
a week is what you're saying,
so you know when we're talking
about activity and exercise for
people who are at home right now.
Maybe they were like, man,
I don't feel like doing it today.
What should they think about?
Obviously, you know,
it doesn't mean you have to go
run a marathon right now, right?
Exactly, I think you could develop this into
day habit that becomes enjoyable San Diego.
It's got perfect weather and you're
able to walk around and be outside.
You could find a variety of things whether
it's going to the gym or biking or walking
or just being outside and being active.
I, I think it benefits you from
a cardiovascular standpoint
from an obesity standpoint.
And now we have clear evidence that it helps.
Prevent certain types of cancer
and if you could explain doctor,
I know a lot of people like myself,
wonder why that is.
I mean, we know obviously all
the health benefits of exercise.
It's it's very expensive,
but how does it prevent cancer?
Why is that?
Well, that's a great question.
This study didn't specifically look at
the mechanism by which it protects,
but we know that exercise on a regular
basis helps bolster our immune
system or our body's defense system.
These are the white blood cells like
lymphocytes that can survey our body
and and if a cancer does develop,
it could help attack and prevent
it from developing into pendency.
And that's probably one of the
mechanisms by which their size helps.
To beneficially prevent cancer.
OK, so we want to make our
bodies as healthy as we can.
So what other things can we do?
What other risk factors would
be something that we can in
fact control like exercise?
Well at Scripps Clinic,
MD Anderson we're all about cancer.
Obviously cancer is a terrible word.
There are other things we can do to
prevent such as sun safety practice.
Go outside wearing sunscreen.
Most importantly, a non smoker.
I think we recognize the.
Tobacco is a strong person
agent for many types of cancer.
Nate are adolescents in our children
against a particular viruses that are
known to certain types of cancer.
And then we could eat a healthy diet,
prevent obesity.
We we're clear that we should also advertise.
In addition,
I think in addition to prevention,
early detection is really important too.
So senior primary care doctor getting the
recommended early detection screening.
Things like colonoscopy and Mcgruff E.
These are all very important.
Yeah, especially you know.
Right now it's obviously on the
mind as the Susan G Komen walk
takes off for the three day walk,
and many people know you know,
even if you follow all the rules and
you eat healthy and you exercise
and you get the proper sleep,
it's still sometimes out of our hands, right?
What other cancer risk factors
are literally out of our control?
There are, I think the biggest risk
factor for cancer is just increasing age.
I guess the good news is our life
expectancy is increasing and thereby
our risk of getting cancer gets gets
higher as we as we age and there are
other things like family history that
we cannot control so it's nice to have
a new study like this that points to
something that everybody can impact right?
Everybody has control over how much
activity they have in their lives
and a doctor since we have
you on and people aren't.
I'm watching this on TV right now.
What's a message that you
want to get out to them?
I know you know with a lot
of people it's it's easy to
maybe skip that you know,
walk or jog, but you know,
if they're considering there
maybe skipping it,
what do you want to tell them?
Well, having cancer is not very fun.
I think you could ask many people on
the Komen walk about their experiences.
And of course,
the it's 100% survival from cancer.
If you never get it, and so do
everything we can to maintain a healthy.
Lifestyle again, please don't.
Please avoid tobacco.
Continue to to create our youth
about the harms of tobacco,
and I think they eat well.
Maintain a normal weight and
exercise are really good strategy
and I like what you said.
We live in San Diego where you
know every day is a really nice
day to go out and work out.
I mean we have it right there
just outside of our doors.
This great weather that we
get to enjoy so make it fun.
When must I
would encourage people during this time
of COVID to take care of themselves,
but also to organize that cancer screen.
Very important you could to to
Scripps Scripps Health Care system.
See Primary care Doctor and dope screening
for fear of going into a facility.
It's it's very quite right.
Yeah, the early detection,
of course, is key as well.
Alright, thank you very much for being
on with this important information.
Good to see you this morning.