Research Study Reveals Daily Exercise May Prevent Testicular Cancer

EXERCISE MAY PREVENT TESTICULAR CANCER

Young men in their prime rarely give any thought to the possibility of cancer. However, cancer of the testes is the most common form of cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 49. Three out of four cases of testicular cancer occur in men under the age of 50. Furthermore, there has been a continuous rise in cancer of the testes in the United States for the past several decades. If not treated early, it can quickly spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen, chest, neck, and eventually to the lungs.

A recent report in the British Journal of Medicine has found that young men who don't regularly exercise may be at an increased risk for testicular cancer. This study compared 794 men between the ages of 15 and 49 years who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and an equal number of men the same age who did not have cancer. They found that the risk of testicular cancer increased with the amount of sedentary time and decreased as the amount of exercise increased. Men who spent 10 hours of their day sifting had a 71 percent greater chance of having testicular cancer. Those who exercised 15 hours or more per week had a substantially reduced risk.

It is thought that increased exposure to the hormone gonadotrophin may be responsible for cancer of the testes. Gonadotrophin increases at puberty and is responsible for maturation of the testes. Because of better nutrition and health men tend to reach puberty earlier, increasing their lifelong exposure to gonadotrophin. There is also evidence that men with testicular cancer have higher levels of gonadotrophin. Exercise is known to reduce the secretion of gonadotrophin and decrease its level. Since our lifestyles and occupations have become sedentary, this factor may contribute to the rise of these hormones.

Regardless of how small your chances of getting cancer may be, a regular program of bodybuilding is a great health insurance plan. So don't just sit around and worry about your health. Get into a fitness program and feel the power of good health.