The scientific secretary of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), Isabel Echavarría, attending physician of the Medical Oncology Service of the Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital, has emphasized the role of sports as "another treatment" against cancer.
These statements were made during the presentation of the XII edition of the Pelayo Vida Challenge, an adventure that will take five women who have overcome cancer to travel through Senegal for 17 days, with the aim of highlighting the importance of physical activity and conveying a message of hope to other cancer patients.
Echavarría detailed that the scientific evidence regarding the positive effects of exercise is increasingly solid, not only in improving quality of life and treatment tolerance but also due to its possible influence on the prognosis of certain types of tumors.
In this regard, she mentioned the ability of sports to reduce chronic inflammation, promote a better response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and mitigate some of the complications associated with hormonal treatments used in breast cancer.
Furthermore, she indicated that the available data points to a decrease in relapses in certain tumors, such as breast and colon cancer, and emphasized the advisability of combining strength exercises with cardiovascular activities.
XII Pelayo Vida Challenge: five survivors heading to Senegal
Pelayo Seguros, along with SEOM, has announced the XII Pelayo Vida Challenge, in which Vanesa Amigo, Irantzu Pinillos, Noemí Carrasco, Milena Amelibia, and Marta García Bodí will travel through Senegal on an expedition that will start on November 24. The itinerary will include sections on mountain bikes, kayaking crossings, and physical and mental endurance tests from the coast of Dakar to the tropical landscapes of Casamance, in the south of the country.
The five participants have been chosen from over 500 applicants from nine countries and embody different ways of facing cancer and resuming their personal goals after completing treatments. Among the project's goals is to show how sports can become a key instrument for regaining confidence, autonomy, and enthusiasm after an oncological diagnosis.
"I want a breath of hope to women who are going through an oncological process. That they see that there is a healthy and fulfilling life afterwards," said Marta García during the event, thus emphasizing the relevance of this expedition as a space to share experiences and offer positive references.
In the presentation, it was also communicated that the Spanish fashion brand Mércules will join the Reto Pelayo Vida through the sale of leather handbags with a specific design for this cause. The brand will donate 50 percent of the sales of this accessory made between October 18 and 20 to the Fundación Pelayo, in support of CRIS Against Cancer.