Prescription Pad
your prescription for getting
"back in the swing" after breast cancer
Back in the Swing is proud to bring you the new research that focuses on helping breast cancer survivors lead joyful, healthy lives.
Prescription No. 1 - EXERCISE
"Numerous studies have demonstrated that obesity and weight gain adversely affect cancer prognosis, adding further evidence to the hypothesis that physical activity - one of the critical components of obesity and weight gain - influences cancer survival." - Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH, Yale School of Medicine Professor and Cancer Researcher
Download the Prescription Pad PDF.
Complete research articles that document how exercise is critical to the health of all breast cancer survivors are available below. Here are the highlights:
- Weight lifting will not worsen the arm and hand swelling associated with lymphedema in breast-cancer survivors, according to the study, "Weight Lifting in Women with Breast-Cancer-Related Lymphedema", The New England Journal of Medicine, (2009). View PDF.
- Physical activity was linked to a lower risk of breast cancer and brast cancer recurrence, in the study, "Physical Activity and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis", The Journal of the American Medical Association, (2005). View PDF.
- Women who increased physical activity after diagnosis had a 45% lower risk of losing their lives to the disease, compared to women who were inactive both before and after disanosis, aoccirding to hte study, "Influence of Pre- and Postdiagnosis Physical Activity on Mortality in Breast Cancer Survivors", The Journal of Clinical Oncology, (2008). View PDF.
- Jazzercise participants lost weight and imporved their fitness levels significantly, according to results of a study at the Breast CAncer Survivorship Center at hte University of Kansas Cancer Center, from 2008 to 2010. The Energy Balance Study (Diet, exercise and behavior modification) will be presented at The 5th Biennial Cancer Survivorship Research Conference. The PDF will be available soon.