Physical inactivity is linked to certain cancers, with approximately 1% of UK cancers each year directly attributed to inactivity. Regular physical activity reduces cancer risk through various mechanisms like reducing inflammation and hormone levels. Government guidelines recommend a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate activity per week. Physical activity also benefits cancer patients and survivors by reducing tiredness and improving well-being and quality of life. Cancer Research UK aims to address preventable cancers through research, fellowships, and public information on the role of physical activity in cancer prevention and survivorship.

1. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND
CANCER
LINDA BAULD
OCTOBER 8TH 2015

2. Outline
• PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AND CANCER
• EFFECTS OF ACTIVITY ON CANCER RISK
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR CANCER PATIENTS
• WHAT NEXT?
2

3. PHYSICAL
INACTIVITY
AND CANCER
1

4. Physical inactivity versus sedentary behaviour
• PHYSICAL INACTIVITY MEANS A LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR IS TIME SPENT LYING OR SITTING
DOWN (E.G. AT HOME, AT WORK, WHEN COMMUTING)
• SOMEONE WHO IS SEDENTARY (E.G. AT WORK) MAY STILL BE
PHYSICALLY ACTIVE IN THEIR SPARE TIME
• THIS MAKES THESE CONCEPTS DIFFICULT TO DISENTANGLE IN
RESEARCH STUDIES
• PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AND SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR ARE NOT
THE SAME, ALTHOUGH BOTH IMPACT ON HEALTH
4

5. Physical inactivity is linked to cancer
• APPROXIMATELY 1% OF ALL CANCERS IN THE UK EACH YEAR
ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
• 3% of bowel cancers
• 4% of womb cancers
• 3% of breast cancers
• IT ALSO LEADS TO A GREATER RISK OF BEING OVERWEIGHT OR
OBESE, WHICH IS IN TURN LINKED TO UP TO TEN TYPES OF
CANCER
5 Parkin D M, 2011. Cancers attributable to consumption of alcohol in the UK in 2010. British Journal of Cancer: 105(S2); S14-
S18.
Cancer Research UK 2015 http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/risk/preventable-
cancers#heading-Ten

6. 6
1,700
1,400
300
Cancer Research UK
2014
Physical
inactivity
is directly
linked to
approx.
3,400
cancers
per year in
the UK

7. EFFECTS OF
ACTIVITY ON
CANCER RISK
2

8. Physical activity prevents cancer
8
• KEEPING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE HELPS PREVENT CANCERS LINKED
TO INACTIVITY
• PREVENTION IS DUE TO ACTIVE REDUCTION IN RISK
• THIS REDUCTION IS INDEPENDENT FROM EFFECTS ON FITNESS
OR WEIGHT THAT COULD CONFER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

9. Mechanisms behind cancer risk reduction
9
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUPPORTS THE MOVEMENT OF FOOD
THROUGH THE BOWEL AND REDUCES INFLAMMATION IN THE
BOWEL, REDUCING THE RISK OF BOWEL CANCER
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REDUCES LEVELS OF HORMONES (INCL.
OESTROGEN AND INSULIN) THAT ARE LINKED TO A RANGE OF
CANCERS
• REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN ALSO HELP TO REACH AND
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT, WHICH HAS AN INDIRECT
EFFECT ON SEVERAL CANCERS LINKED TO OBESITY
WCRF and AICR. Food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer: A global perspective. 2007, Washington:
American Institute for Cancer Research
IARC, Weight Control and Physical Activity. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, ed. H. Vainio and F. Bianchini. Vol. 6.
2002, Lyon: IARC

10. How big is the effect on cancer risk?
10
• PEOPLE WHO DO THE MOST PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN CUT
THEIR BOWEL CANCER RISK BY UP TO A QUARTER
• FOR EVERY TWO HOURS/WEEK OF MODERATE TO VIGOROUS
EXERCISE, A WOMAN REDUCES HER BREAST CANCER RISK BY
5%
• BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE CAN REDUCE A WOMAN’S RISK OF
ENDOMETRIAL CANCER BY UP TO 30%
Robsahm, T.E., et al. Body mass index, physical activity, and colorectal cancer by anatomical subsites: a systematic review
and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Eur J Cancer Prev, 2013
Wu, Y., et al. Physical activity and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Breast Cancer Res, 2013.
137(3): p. 869-82
Moore, S.C, et al. Physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and the prevention of endometrial cancer. Br J Cancer 2010. 103
(7): 933-8

11. More activity = lower risk
11
• THERE IS A DOSE-RESPONSE OF DECREASING RISK WITH
INCREASED ACTIVITY, I.E. THE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
SOMEONE IS, THE BETTER
•BUT GETTING INACTIVE PEOPLE TO START
BEING ACTIVE IS A CRUCIAL STEP
Friendenreich, C.M. et al. State of the epidemiological evidence on physical activity and cancer prevention. European
Journal of Cancer 2010, 46:2593-2604

12. Physical activity recommendations
12
• GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGEST A MINIMUM OF
2.5 HOURS OF MODERATE ACTIVITY PER WEEK FOR ADULTS
• MODERATE OR VIGOROUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INCLUDES:
• Cycling and brisk walking
• Running or jogging
• Team sports (football, rugby etc.)
• Dancing
• Heavy gardening
• Household tasks
• Active family games (e.g. tag)
Department of Health 2011 Physical activity guidelines https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-physical-activity-
guidelines

13. Where to start?
13
• THE GOVERNMENT’S 2.5 HOURS OF MODERATE ACTIVITY PER
WEEK CAN BE SPLIT, E.G.:
• 30 minutes 5 days a week
• 10 minute chunks
• INTEGRATING ACTIVITIES IN DAILY ROUTINES CAN BE HELPFUL:
• For shorter journeys walk rather than drive
• Take the stairs instead of the lift
• Go for a short walk at lunch time
• Have regular family fun days in the park
Department of Health 2011 Physical activity guidelines https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-physical-activity-
guidelines

14. EFFECTS OF
ACTIVITY FOR
CANCER
PATIENTS
3

15. Physical activity helps cancer patients
15
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REDUCES TIREDNESS AND IMPROVES
FITNESS IN THOSE UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENT AND IN
CANCER SURVIVORS
• WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPROVED IN CANCER
SURVIVORS WHO DO REGULAR EXERCISE
• EVIDENCE IS ALSO EMERGING THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COULD
POSITIVELY AFFECT CANCER RECURRENCE AND MORTALITY
• In breast cancer
• In bowel cancer
Speck, R.M, et al. An update of controlled physical activity trials in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J
Cancer Surv 2010. 4(2):87-100
Fong, D. et al. Physical activity for cancer survivors: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2012. 344 e70.
Ibrahim, E.M, et al. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis: meta-analysis of published studies. Med
Oncol 2011. 28(3):753-765
Meyerhardt J.A, et al. Physical activity and survival after colorectal cancer diagnosis. J Clin Oncol 2006. 24:3527-3534

16. WHAT’S NEXT?
4

17. Physical Activity and CRUK
17
• PREVENTION KEY FOCUS IN CRUK STRATEGY- AIM TO ADDRESS
THE 4 IN 10 PREVENTABLE INCIDENCES OF CANCER
• POLICY RESEARCH CENTRE FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PRCP)
• CANCER PREVENTION FELLOWSHIPS
• INNOVATION WORKSHOPS
• RENEWED FOCUS ON BEHAVIOURAL RESEARCH FOR CANCER
PREVENTION THROUGH EXISTING FUNDING COMMITTEES
• WELCOME NEW PROPOSALS FOCUSSING ON PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY / EXERCISE AND CANCER
• INFORMATION PROVISION FOR THE PUBLIC

18. Race For Life
18
• PRIMARILY A FUNDRAISING EVENT,
BUT COULD ALSO HELP GET
PEOPLE ACTIVE
• IN 2015, R4L INTERVENTION WAS
TRIALLED DESIGNED TO HELP
PARTICIPANTS CONTINUE BEING
ACTIVE AFTER THE EVENT
• Built on feeling of success at
having completed their Race
• Provided tools to plan regular
activity over the next year
• Pledging

19. Race For Life
19

20. The biggest breakthroughs often
come from two very simple principles:
(FROM JAMES PATTERSON)
•GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS
•GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO ACT ON THAT
INFORMATION

21. Let’s beat cancer sooner
Professor Linda Bauld
Cancer Research UK
Contact : Linda.Bauld@cancer.org.uk
cruk.org