Exercise ‘Better Than Drugs’ To Stop Colon Cancer Returning
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
First study of its kind finds that an ‘exercise prescription’ can reduce the chances of colon cancer patients dying from a relapse by a third
These first two paragraphs add more detail.
Exercise can be “better than a drug” for reducing the risk of cancer returning, a study has found.
Patients with advanced colon cancer who received an “exercise prescription” after finishing their cancer treatment were found to be a third less likely to die from the disease.
I find these findings from the The CO21 Challenge trial, partially funded by Cancer Research UK’s Stand Up To Cancer fund, rather remarkable.
The research was led by Christian Booth, of Queen’s University in Canada, which illustrates the international nature of medical research.
On a third reading of the article, I noticed the full implications of this paragraph.
Alongside benefits for colon cancer, Booth said that fewer patients in the active group went on to develop breast cancer, suggesting that there may be an effect on other cancer types too. Of those who received an exercise prescription, only two went on to develop breast cancer, compared with 12 in the control group.
This could be a very significant study, that changes the treatment of cancer.
Daily Bulletin – March 7th, 2020
I seem to be getting weaker in my left leg every morning.
Look at this picture of my left toes.
They are all dry with the nails in a bad way.
This second picture shows how the left foot is redder than the right.
I’ve noticed this before in my life and I certainly have a problem with my left knee, which I told my doctor about three months ago. As he suggested it, I now wear a support bandage, which doesn’t seem to help much.
Could it be that the reason I fell last Friday night was that the knee just gave up?
Blood Pressure
I’ve just measured it at 08:10. It was 132/47/75.
An Aside On My Physical Health
Every morning and evening until I had the fall, I used to do twelve sets of physical exercises; including press-ups, Superman stretches and arm openings. I used to finish by standing for twenty seconds straight on each leg.
I can still do the right leg for twenty seconds, but I can’t do more than a few on the left without support.
Exercise On The Go In Brussels
I saw this crazy device, called a Workstation, with a guy peddling away on it, in Brussels Midi station.
Exercise On The Go In Brussels
I suppose, I could do with a bit more exercise!
It’s Gibbon Time
I took a New Bus for London up to Piccadilly Circus this afternoon and it was surprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon.
A Busy New Bus for London
When I got off, I used the rear staircase and I found that the vertical hand holds were alternated for my left and right hands. So I swung down the bus like a gibbon. I’m not sure, whether all buses are like that on the top deck. But if they are not, they should be! The slightly rough texture of the hand holds also gives a good grip for my gammy left hand.
Incidentally, note in the picture, how the handholds slant outwards. Does this effectively make the gangway wider? Or just appear so? I must take my tape measure with me to check!
After all, when you are rehabilitating from a stroke, like I am, isn’t it a bit cheaper to get free exercise in everything you do?
Shower and Exercise
My morning regime has changed now that I live alone.
Our/my bedroom used to have a two large wardrobes and since I only need one now, I removed the wardrobe, extended the bathroom and put a walk-in shower in the extra space. It has no door and is electronically controlled so that I just switch it on and never bother about the temperature. It has been completely reliable.
After my shower, I perform a set of exercises for my shoulder. As I said in Bullying, this has almost completely cured the problem, so it is very much worth doing.
But it does set me up for the day.
The Anonymous Widower 