08/09/2025
🚨 Just one workout can reduce cancer cell growth by up to 30%, new study shows
Here’s what you need to know.
Yes, a single workout may be enough to spark powerful anti-cancer effects, according to new research from Edith Cowan University.
The study found that a single session of resistance training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase levels of myokines—muscle-released proteins known to inhibit cancer growth—by up to 30%.
Conducted on breast cancer survivors, the study revealed that despite the challenges posed by treatment, participants showed a measurable and immediate increase in these cancer-fighting proteins after just one session of exercise.
Lead researcher Francesco Bettariga emphasized that exercise is more than a fitness strategy—it’s a form of medicine. He also found that consistent exercise that improves body composition, particularly by reducing fat and building lean muscle, may lower inflammation linked to cancer progression and recurrence. Bettariga cautioned against relying solely on diet for weight loss, stressing that preserving muscle is key to producing myokines and fighting inflammation.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that physical activity should be a standard part of cancer treatment and recovery plans.
Source: Bettariga, F., Taaffe, D. R., Crespo-Garcia, C., Clay, T. D., De Santi, M., Baldelli, G., Adhikari, S., Gray, E. S., Galvão, D. A., & Newton, R. U. (2025). A single bout of resistance or high-intensity interval training increases anti-cancer myokines and suppresses cancer cell growth in vitro in survivors of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatmen
