WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Couch potatoes face cancer risk

Couch potatoes face cancer risk

New York, New York - November 3, 2011

New research is linking lack of physical activity to nearly 100-thousand cases of cancer each year.

Attorney Lynda Wertheim works long hours, sitting behind a desk. Exercise wasn't a priority, until she found out she had breast cancer. "The diagnosis was a wake up call," she said.

New research suggests getting more active could help keep cancer away. Cancer experts say as many 49-thousand cases of breast cancer and 43-thousand colon cancer cases every year in the U.S. could be due to a lack of  physical activity and long periods of sitting down.

Sitting is bad for you and sitting does trigger some of those biological factors that are important in cancer risk -- factors like hormone levels, insulin resistance and inflammation can increase
if someone sits too long, and that's a big concern, since only 31-percent of Americans say they get regular physical activity.

Between work, driving and relaxing at home, some people can sit most of the day. Doctors recommend getting up every hour for a minute or two to move around.

"Diet and exercise are not only increasingly linked to cancer risk, but they're also linked to other illnesses like heart disease. This is something that is modifiable and absolutely within the reach of every individual patient to make even minor adjustments in their lifestyle," said Freya Schnabel, Director of Breast Surgery at NYU Medical Center.

Wertheim made changes after her diagnosis. She now walks everyday. "I was hoping when I started the exercise regime to maintain my health and hopefully not get cancer again, at this stage though, I like it, it's fun, and I have a good time exercising," she said.

And she says taking the right steps has kept her cancer free for over a decade.

Bigad Shaban - CBS News