Breast Cancer Statistics – How Breast Cancer
Survival Rates Increased 50%
Olinda Rola
Breast cancer statistics show that over 1.2 million persons
will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide this year,
according to the World Health Organization. For breast cancer
and prevention, it has long been known that regular physical
activity has been shown to decrease the likelihood of having
breast cancer. What has not been known or studied has been the
effect of regular physical activity on the breast cancer
survival rates or likelihood of death in women that already
have breast cancer. That is, until now.
The breast cancer statistics and findings as reported by the
American Medical Associations Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) in May 2005 were astounding! Certain
participants in the study of women with Stage I, II or III
breast cancer achieved a 50% reduction in the death rate from
breast cancer.
Here are these breast cancer statistics: the journal reported
that in the study 2,987 female registered nurses had been
diagnosed with breast cancer during the years 1984-1998. What
the study found was that the women who had physical activity
equivalent to walking at a steady pace of 2.0-2.9 miles per
hour for 3-5 hours a week had a death rate of only 50% of the
death rate of women who had physical activity equivalent to
walking less than one hour a week. The conclusion of the breast
cancer statistics in the study was that physical activity after
breast cancer has been diagnosed may reduce the risk of death
from breast cancer. The study found that there was little
evidence of any relation between increased physical activity
and increased benefit.
It’s time to dust off those walking shoes!
As a physical activity, walking can be done almost anytime by
anyone anywhere. All that is needed is a good pair of walking
shoes. Walking is fun and reduces stress. As for injuries,
walking has the lowest injury rate of all the various kinds of
exercise.
You can walk with a partner, friend, family member or dog,
maybe even a neighbors dog. Or you can walk with your favorite
headset and music. If you are walking outdoors with a headset,
keep one ear open to hear the sounds around you.
As for basic walking tips:
· As you begin regular walking, take it easy. Standard advice
is to check with your physician before starting any exercise
program. If it has been years or decades since you walked
regularly, perhaps you can begin with 5 minutes of walking and
slowly increase your time and distance.
· Walking at a pace of 75–95 steps a minute will have you
walking at a speed of about 2-3 miles per hour.
· Walk with your head up, looking out in front of you. Do not
walk looking down right in front of you except to navigate any
obstacles.
· Really take it easy the first 5 minutes of walking to warm
up. Afterwards, gently stretch for 5–10 minutes while your
muscles are warm.
· Practice good walking form. Your arms should swing naturally
in the direction you are walking, not from side to side across
your body. Your foot should strike the ground on your heel,
then a rolling motion forward toward the ball of your foot,
then pushing off with your toes.
And here are some basic walking shoes tips:
· Buy your walking shoes from a sporting shoes store with large
selections. Doing so will give you plenty of choices. And buy
your walking shoes later in the day when your feet will be
larger.
· Buy cushioned, supportive walking shoes. To see if a shoe is
supportive, do this test: take a shoe and turn it upside down.
Holding each end of the shoe, try to fold it. If you find the
shoe bends in the middle, then that shoe is not a supportive
shoe. A supportive shoe should bend where your foot normally
bends, near your toes.
· You should allow the width of your index finger between the
end of your shoe and the end of your longest toe, or about
one-half inch.
· Buy two pairs of walking shoes, one for home and one for the
car or workplace. And if one pair gets wet, you can use the
other pair that day.
Walking is the closest thing to the perfect exercise. In
today’s fast-paced society, regular walking can be a welcomed
break from the stress of the day. Maybe you will get to know
your neighborhood or neighbors better. There may be walking
trails you have never seen but wanted to.
Wherever and however you choose to walk, not only can the
experience be fun, you will know you are being good to your
body in a variety of ways. Besides the incredible breast cancer
statistics and findings of the breast cancer study, walking
helps with weight control and bone strength, elevates mood,
helps build and maintain healthy muscles, joints and heart.
With so many great health benefits, why not get started walking
today!
Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing
About The Author: Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch
Publishing and webmaster of
http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural
treatments for a variety of health problems. For information
about preventing breast cancer, breast cancer treatment and
related articles, visit the website to read more.
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