High fitness level may decrease risk of colorectal, lung cancers

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published online in JAMA Oncology, researchers from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, have found that men with a high fitness level in midlife may have a lower risk for developing colorectal and lung cancer.

For the study, researchers identified 13,949 men who had a baseline fitness exam where cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed and had Medicare data of lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer diagnoses. Results showed that during a mean follow-up of 6.5 years, 1,310 were diagnosed with prostate cancer, 200 with lung cancer, and 181 with colorectal cancer.

The researchers found that those who had a high CRF during midlife had a 55% decreased risk of lung cancer and a 44% decreased risk of colorectal cancer compared with men with low CRF. Those with high CRF did not have a decreased risk for prostate cancer.

Researchers also found that men with high CRF in midline had a 32% decreased risk of cancer death among those who were diagnosed with colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer when they were older compared with men with low CRF.

Men with high CRF in midlife had a 68% decreased risk of cardiovascular disease-associated death compared with men with low CRF who developed cancer.