Running has always been one of my passions. Not to be misunderstood as something I have been particular good at or consistent at for that matter, but over the years I have never let my fitness drop too much. I know it is one of the best ways to lift the mood in times when things might feel a bit dark. As I got diagnosed with prostate cancer it became more important than usual, and this for 2 reasons. First of all the common knowledge, at keeping fit will strengthen the immune defense, but early on I also learned that doing High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) would get the blood flowing fast, and in turn prevent metastasis to consolidate. So, even on lazy days, I had to go running. Now I started to look a bit deeper into the benefits, realizing that supplements might one day run out, can not afford it, and I wanted to know what could be done to substitute these supplements. Running seems to be one of them actually.
Running is a powerful tool for prostate cancer prevention and management due to its wide-ranging effects on the body. It enhances cardiovascular and metabolic health, reduces inflammation, and promotes hormonal balance, all of which are important in reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes after diagnosis. One often overlooked benefit is its stimulation of the lymphatic system, which relies on muscle movement to circulate immune cells and remove toxins—running naturally boosts this drainage, supporting detoxification and immune efficiency.
Critically, running has a direct impact on immune surveillance by increasing the circulation and cytotoxic activity of both natural killer (NK) cells and T-cells, which are essential in detecting and destroying abnormal or cancerous cells. This combination of enhanced lymph flow and immune cell activation strengthens the body’s ability to prevent, monitor, and respond to prostate cancer—making regular aerobic exercise like running a key component of both cancer prevention and supportive therapy.
Knowing that the very thing I am now focusing on, natural killer cells and T-cells actually strengthened made me happy, and this is the reason I am now giving it a serious shot in June, with at least 5 km running every single day.