What do astronauts and cancer patients have in common? Jonathan explores this fascinating connection with Dr. Jessica Scott, learning how six decades of NASA research is being used to help the recovery of cancer survivors. New research challenges the traditional notion that you should rest during cancer treatment. Instead, Jessica’s studies into exercise could hold the key to a long and healthy life post-diagnosis. Dr Jessica Scott started her career at NASA where she spent 7 years designing exercise programs for astronauts in outer space. Now, as ...
What do astronauts and cancer patients have in common?
Jonathan explores this fascinating connection with Dr. Jessica Scott, learning how six decades of NASA research is being used to help the recovery of cancer survivors. New research challenges the traditional notion that you should rest during cancer treatment. Instead, Jessica’s studies into exercise could hold the key to a long and healthy life post-diagnosis.
Dr Jessica Scott started her career at NASA where she spent 7 years designing exercise programs for astronauts in outer space. Now, as the principal investigator at the world-leading Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she is using her unique skillset in the fight against cancer.
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Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
01:32 Quickfire questions
03:10 Health challenges for astronauts
07:19 Impact of exercise on astronauts
10:43 NASA’s exercise program
14:28 Transition to cancer research
15:40 Exercise and cancer treatment
17:10 Side effects of cancer treatments
23:13 Studies on the benefit of exercising alongside cancer treatment
26:27 Tailoring exercise to the individual
28:10 Global perspectives on exercising alongside cancer treatment
29:47 Understanding different types of exercise
33:26 Implementing NASA's non-linear exercise training techniques
41:04 The next steps for Jessica’s research
42:45 Episode summary
Books by our ZOE Scientists:
- Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati
- Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector
- Fibre Fuelled by Dr Will Bulsiewicz
Studies related to today’s episode:
- Cancer Survivorship Statistics from The National Cancer Institute https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/ocs/statistics#stats
- Multisystem Toxicity in Cancer: Lessons from NASA’s Countermeasures Program from The National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7380275/
- A randomised trial comparing the effects of moderate versus moderate to high-intensity aerobic training in women with operable breast cancer from The National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2965727/
- Effects of exercise countermeasures on multisystem function in long duration spaceflight astronauts from The National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9898566/
- Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Cancer Survivors: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) Study from The National Library of Medicine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35772913/
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Episode transcripts are available here.
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