Exercise can lower your risk of getting bowel cancer and slow the growth of tumours, according to a recent study. The research was published in the journal International Journal of Cancer. It has been shown that physical activity causes the cancer-fighting protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), to be released into the bloodstream which helps repair the DNA of damaged cells. The research also sheds new light on the importance of moderate activity in the fight against life-threatening illnesses and could help develop treatments in the future.