Ladies who are breast cancer survivors, step away from your computer and start jogging in place! A new study states that exercising even for a short time each week can reduce the risk that your breast cancer will recur. This recently published report, part of a long-term research effort called the Nurse's Health Study, was conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The study involved 2,987 women ages 33 to 55 who previously were diagnosed with breast cancer. Even when compared to such factors as smoking, obesity, diet, and type of breast cancer treatment, exercise won out as the factor most helpful in reducing the recurrence of this disease. The five-year survival rate was 97% and the ten-year rate was 92%. Impressive.

Who gained the most benefit? Not surprisingly, women who exercised moderately, the equivalent of walking for an hour, three to five times a week. Their breast cancer recurrence risk was actually cut in half! Does exercising more than this push you farther up the survival curve? No. So in this case more is not better, but moderate is apparently just right.

How does exercise make a difference? That question wasn't part of the study, but researchers hypothesized that it is related to hormone levels, because women who exercise usually have lower estrogen levels.

So are you up yet? Power walking, perhaps? Something to consider for anyone who has had this disease and doesn?t want to revisit the experience!