Posted on 10/05/2021 6:44:31 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Forget bedrest, research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shown exercise may be a key weapon in cancer patients' battle against the disease.
Exercise causes muscles to secrete proteins called myokines into our blood—and researchers from ECU's Exercise Medicine Research Institute have learned these myokines can suppress tumor growth and even help actively fight cancerous cells.
A clinical trial saw obese prostate cancer patients undergo regular exercise training for 12 weeks, giving blood samples before and after the exercise program.
Researchers then took the samples and applied them directly onto living prostate cancer cells.
Study supervisor Professor Robert Newton said the results help explain why cancer progresses more slowly in patients who exercise.
"The patients' levels of anti-cancer myokines increased in the three months," he said.
"When we took their pre-exercise blood and their post-exercise blood and placed it over living prostate cancer cells, we saw a significant suppression of the growth of those cells from the post-training blood.
"That's quite substantial, indicating chronic exercise creates a cancer-suppressive environment in the body."
The study focused on prostate cancer due it being the most common non-skin cancer among men and the high number of patient fatalities—however Professor Newton said the findings could have a wider impact.
"We believe this mechanism applies to all cancers," he said.
ECU is carrying out further studies, including a trial where patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer are put through a six-month exercise program.
Though results are still pending, Professor Newton said preliminary findings were encouraging.
"These men have high disease burden, extensive treatment side-effects and are very unwell, but they still can produce anti-cancer medicine from within.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Also helps with a top comorbidity for bad COVID-19 outcomes (weight).
Some studies showing Ivermectin fights cancer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.