More exercise is better than taking medicine to treat ovarian cancer

A new study shows that moderate physical activity may help reduce women's risk of ovarian cancer. The study supports the theory that adopting a healthy lifestyle can prevent the development of tumors in women. So many experts say that more exercise is better than taking medicine to treat ovarian cancer.

Researchers from the Public Health Agency of Canada conducted a questionnaire survey on 442 women with ovarian cancer and 2,135 women with similar conditions who did not have ovarian cancer. The results showed that women with the highest level of exercise had a significantly reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Women with the highest level of moderate exercise had a 33% lower risk of ovarian cancer; women with the highest level of total exercise had a 27% lower risk.

The study reported that the risk of ovarian cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women is basically the same. However, vigorous exercise does not have this protective effect. A possible explanation is that the enhancement of the immune and antioxidant systems can reduce the risk of obesity, while high-intensity exercise can suppress the immune system.

The researchers concluded that although ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis, physical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor. Because regular exercise has many health benefits, regular and moderate exercise has far-reaching significance for the comprehensive prevention of chronic diseases.