Looking for an incentive to launch an exercise routine, even in the dead of winter? A pair of recent studies have uncovered an important link between a consistent, long-term investment in an exercise routine and reducing your chances of death from colon and prostate cancer.

In the study that tracked the health of more than 2,700 prostate cancer patients over an 18-year period, those who walked more than 90 minutes a week at normal or brisk pace reduced their mortality risks from any cause by 46 percent. And, for men who did vigorous exercise (more than three hours a week) their chances of death from prostate cancer fell by 61 percent.

Those sweaty, life-affirming results were similar to those for the 150,000 men and women taking part in the American Cancer Society Prevention Study II that compared activity levels to colon cancer diagnoses and related deaths over an extended time. Compared to the sedentary, patients who exercised consistently over a decade experienced the lowest risk for colon cancer-related death. Plus, those who exercised at the same or above median physical activity levels cut their mortality risks linked to colon cancer by 50 percent, compared to patients below the median.

Researchers in the latter study also joined the growing number of health professionals enthusiastically supporting the benefits of exercise for cancer patients.

Should you need some guidance, check out our recent features on how to prepare to start an exercise program and the top 10 tips to achieve your fitness goals.

Journal of Clinical Oncology January 4, 2011

insciences.org January 6, 2011

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Vol. 19, No. 12, p. 3000-3004, December 2010

ScienceDaily December 31, 2010