Get ready for World Kidney Cancer Day on June 18!

World Kidney Cancer Day is June 18 and this year the theme is physical activity.

Regular physical activity plays an important role in preventing and treating many common cancers.

Studies show regular exercise may lower the risk of kidney cancer by 22%. Even small amounts of exercise can help reduce cancer-related fatigue, anxiety and depression, and improves quality of life and treatment outcomes, according to research led by Dr. Linda Trinh, a world expert in exercise and cancer survivorship at the University of Toronto in Canada and spokesperson for World Kidney Cancer Day. Regular physical activity can also:

Improve kidney function
Reduce the risk of chronic disease
Help manage weight
Improve energy levels, strength, fitness, and flexibility
Improve sleep

“It’s a big concern, but also a big opportunity. Simply by promoting and supporting physical activity in the kidney cancer community, we can transform the lives of thousands of people around the world.”

Dr. Linda Trinh

However, three out of four people with kidney cancer don’t do enough physical activity, and half report no physical activity.

How much exercise is needed? It depends on the individual but the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Cancer Society recommend cancer survivors get:

150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week like walking, cycling, or swimming; OR
75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week like jogging or aerobics classes; OR
an equivalent combination of moderate- or vigorous-intensity exercise.

This guidebook by our partners at the International Kidney Cancer Coalition explains more about the impact of physical activity for people with kidney cancer and has tools and ideas to begin moving more and help reach exercise goals at a comfortable pace.

Use this guidebook to help you move more.

Get the Guidebook!Download

As part of celebrating World Kidney Cancer Day, the KCA invites the kidney cancer community to join us in the 74K Challenge in recognition of the nearly 74,000 people who will get a kidney cancer diagnosis in 2020.

Set your own physical activity goal and invite your friends and family to join in and support you. We’re matching everything raised dollar for dollar to reach our $74,000 goal! Don’t forget to share your photos and videos using #UnstoppableTogether.

While the world is in the middle of a pandemic, it is more important than ever to recognize the kidney cancer community and the unique challenges we face. We can still support each other while we’re apart. Share your photos and videos using the hashtag #UnstoppableTogether and celebrate World Kidney Cancer Day with the 74K Challenge as a team!