Women's health: Physical activity reduces cancer risk and improves treatment

Lake Pusiano was the setting for 'Fiume in rosa 2026', the first event in Italy to kick off the 'National Women's Health Day' celebrations; the importance of this initiative, now in its 11th edition, is witnessed by the many projects that will be held throughout the peninsula throughout the week to remind people of the value of prevention, early diagnosis and gender medicine. A few years ago, with the collaboration of Fabrizio Quaglino, president of the Centro Remiero lago di Pusiano and vice-president of the Italian Rowing Federation, Erone onlus launched the 'Sport and integrated therapy' project; the first in Italia to think of rowing as integrated medicine.

The pilot phase, which involved 18 members under the supervision of Alberto Laffranchi, the project's medical director and a member of the association, made it possible to understand the importance of a multidisciplinary intervention that, in addition to the presence of specific rowing instructors, could count on a specific multidisciplinary team: doctors with expertise in oncology and integrated medicine, physiatrists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, nutritionists and psychologists. Since then, membership has grown, demonstrating the public's need for these issues. Sporting activity in general and rowing in particular act both as a form of primary prevention by eliminating risk factors, and as tertiary prevention by reducing complications, relapses and disability. The rhythmic movement of paddling, involving the upper body, offers greater benefits to women coping with the aftermath of breast surgery.

Inactivity ranks fourth among mortality risk factors globally, and regular physical activity, as shown by data published by Ropi (Rete oncologica pazienti Italia - Patients' Oncology Network), is a powerful oncological support therapy, capable of reducing fatigue (chronic fatigue) and improving quality of life, reducing: loneliness, anxiety, depression, stress, supporting self-esteem and body image. The magazine: I Numeri del Cancro in Italia 2025, reports that the number of citizens with a cancer diagnosis is about 3.6 million, of which almost 2 million are women; a real army if we think that every year the Italians who are confronted with this diagnosis for the first time are more than 390,000, of which about 176,000 are women.

The most frequent cancers in women: breast, colorectal and lung. What reassures us, however, are the survival figures: in the last 10 years mortality has fallen by 15%, as reported by Aiom (Italian Medical Oncologists Association). The costs borne by the citizen, the so-called financial toxicity, affect 26% of this population and are reflected at work: 16% of women and 15% of men affected by cancer leave their jobs. An old study by Favo (Federation of Voluntary Oncology Associations) estimated the average annual per capita social cost per cancer-stricken citizen at EUR 17,483, with an overall economic impact exceeding EUR 36.4 billion; in 2023, public spending on anti-cancer drugs exceeded EUR 4.7 billion, an increase of 9.6% over 2022.

Constant physical activity offers a solution by guaranteeing a 30-40% reduction in cancer risk for colorectal and breast cancer; there is also evidence for endometrium (about 20-40%), prostate and lung by about 20%, although without nullifying the effect of smoking. In breast cancer, regular physical activity improves treatment tolerability and is associated with reduced overall mortality after diagnosis as early as 150 minutes/week of moderate activity. As regional councillor Anna Dotti recalled, 'the Lombardy Region has always promoted sport as a tool for social inclusion and psychophysical wellbeing, collaborating to integrate physical activity into cancer treatment pathways. In 2026, the Regional Network of Sports Medicine and Pathology was launched, an experimental model to guarantee structured and multidisciplinary healthcare paths, overcoming fragmentation in care. Among the specific initiatives for cancer patients, the Sport Integrated Therapy project is an example. Creating oncology awareness in pink is also this.