In PubMed there are over 800 articles found when that topic is searched upon. A recent study *might* fill in a very important blank which had existed for knowing how getting enough exercise reduces malignancy rates (looked at in other studies), or mortality during a malignancy (looked at in this study), or both. Studies already show that exercise reduces a wide range of malignancy rates and improves survival. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16299029&query_hl=2 &itool=pubmed_docsum> >For the physically active, increasing IGFBP-3 by 26.2 nmol/l was >associated with a 48% reduction in colorectal cancer specific deaths From an Reuters article by Martha Kerr: >insulin-like binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), inhibits another protein >called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), thereby blocking IGF-1's >proliferative effect on cell growth... > >Haydon told Reuters Health that that "physical activity can >increase IGFBP-3 levels, which, in turn, reduces the amount of free >IGF-1." IGF-1 has been shown to stimulate cell growth, inhibit cell >death, and promote angiogenesis -- the formation of new blood >vessels, which tumors need to grow... > >"Other studies that have looked at this have shown a dose-effect, >meaning the more exercise the lower the risk... While this was a human study there is a very reasonable chance of this mechanism generalizing to other mammals and other types of malignancies. Exercise is a very important part of health. -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5258]