Walking Improves Breast Cancer Survival Rate

Women who walk 1 - 3 hours per week after breast cancer diagnosis improve their survival rate by 20-50%, according to researchers. This effect is especially seen in women who have hormone-responsive tumors. These results were found in following the cases of almost 3000 women in the Nurse's Health Study.

Don't Stop Walking and Exercise After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The study results should sound an alarm for all breast cancer patients, who researchers say often drop their exercise levels by two hours per week after diagnosis. Breast cancer patients should continue or increase their walking and exercise levels to improve their chances of survival.

Improve Your Survival Rate by 50% by Walking Three Hours Per Week

Walking three hours per week, such as a half hour per day, improved survival rates by 50% This is an easy goal to achieve, and matches the minimum recommended exercise levels by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walking a half hour per day will also reduce risks for cancer, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

How to Start Walking

Many breast cancer patients may have been inactive, or must build back up their activity despite the challenges of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. We have free email walking programs to encourage and support you in starting a walking program.
Let's Get Walking: A beginners course to take you from zero to walking comfortably for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.
Walk of Life 10-Week Program: Combine walking with exercise and nutrition tips to create a healthy lifestyle.

Source: Michelle D. Holmes; Wendy Y. Chen; Diane Feskanich; Candyce H. Kroenke; Graham A. Colditz. "Physical Activity and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis." Journal of the American Medical Association. 2005;293:2479-2486.