Well – I received another request for a guest post – very exciting for me – and since it is so important to help anyone and everyone have the best chance at beating this ugly disease, I agreed to share. I do believe that being healthy and fit can be a strong preventive measure to fight all health issues. I also believe that having a positive attitude and feeling like you are contributing to your fight and feel strong enough to win, can be key – the mind is a very powerful tool…. but as some of us know a little too well, it is when the fight is gone that things take a turn for the worst…. I hope you find this information helpful.
Exercising Helps Cancer Patients
Going through cancer treatments is a trying ordeal to say the least. There are seldom any promises, treatments can be very harsh on the body, and the symptoms are often damaging to the patient’s self-perception and emotional well being. Fitness, great tool in keeping the body healthy and building healthy energy levels, has been shown to help with all of this. Whether you have just been diagnosed, are currently going through treatment, or are now counted among the millions of cancer survivors, exercise can help.
Isn’t Exercise Dangerous During Cancer Treatment?
That has been the reigning philosophy for many years, but it is changing. Programs for cancer survivors have been around for a while, and most offer physical therapy. Most treatment facilities, however, still suggest rest for people whom experience weight loss and the pain of treatment. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Dr. Ballard-Barbash of the National Cancer agree with an increasing amount of oncologists that exercise during cancer treatment, from breast cancer patients to those suffering more rare diseases such as mesothelioma, is a good idea.
What Kind of Exercise is Best?
While guidelines from the ACSM can help determine the best exercise regimen, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to cancer. Each case requires the direction of a licensed physical trainer consulting with the oncologist. Current health status, aggressiveness of treatments, and the type of cancer all play a role in choosing between aerobics routine, weight and endurance training or basic yoga and range-of-motion exercises. Expected outcome of the treatment may play a role as well, though it is established that exercise can help improve even mesothelioma prognosis.
How Exactly Does Exercise Help?
Generally, it helps by increasing quality of life and survival rates. Many of the symptoms of cancer and treatments for it are the very problems exercise is known to prevent. Weight loss, for instance, strips the patient of lean muscle. Regular exercise helps to prevent this, as well as increase energy levels.
Cancer patients face an uphill battle that is emotionally draining. Not only is their life threatened, but the physical appearance may be drastically altered. Exercise has long been known to help in balancing the emotions and maintaining positive self-image. It also offers the patient an opportunity to become involved in getting better. When it comes to preventing remission, patients will be on good footing with the exercise routines established during treatment.
By: David Haas The Writer of the Haas Blaag
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