Daily HealthBeat Tip

A step back from colon cancer.

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I�m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

You need medical treatment to beat colon cancer, and that involves doctors and drugs � a lot of medical steps. But a new study indicates that patients can take additional steps on their own. And steps is literally what they are. Researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health say early-stage patients who exercised after surgery and chemotherapy had up to half the risk of recurrence and death.

Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute did the study:

"The level of activity needed was six hours of moderate paced walking, or the equivalent if more strenuous activities are done." (eight seconds)

More strenuous activities include things like tennis or jogging. And the more strenuous exercises piled up the risk-reduction benefits in less time.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I�m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July 15, 2005

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