Thanks Liz for this very insightful post!!
For years, it has been understood that cancer patients undergoing rigorous therapy should take it easy; however, there is now anecdotal evidence from within the health care and research communities suggesting that physical activity provides plentiful benefits to these individuals.
Colleen Doyle, the American Cancer Society’s director of nutrition and physical activity, concurs. In her statement, quoted within the online article “ To Best Fight Cancer, New Guidelines Urge Exercise” by HealthDay reporter, Dennis Thompson, at MedicineNet.com, “Exercise is so important for cancer patients, but so many doctors and health professionals are concerned about safety issues — is it safe for people undergoing treatment to exercise? And this group has decided that yes, it is. These guidelines really help lay some of those issues to rest. This clearly delineates that it is safe and it is feasible and we should be recommending exercise for cancer patients.”
Benefits of Regular Exercise
The ultimate benefit of exercise, of course, is fighting the disease; however, there is a multitude of other benefits for patients undergoing therapy.
• Physical activity assists with treatment effectiveness. For example, cancer patients undergoing resistant training are more apt to receive a full amount of chemotherapy versus a reduced amount of treatment due to the damaging effects on their body.
• There is a diminished need for drugs. Chemo patients often lack red blood cells (RBCs), leaving one feeling lethargic and fatigued. Due to this, typically, medications are administered to help replenish the amount of RBCs within the system. Findings show that through aerobic exercise, RBCs are remaining in the body, despite chemotherapy treatments; therefore, eliminating the need for additional medicinal therapy.
• Regular exercise assists with retaining as much bone and muscle mass as possible. Traditionally, patients tend to lose both during therapy treatments.
• Cancer affects every facet of the afflicted individual’s life, both emotionally and physically. Aside from the aforementioned physical benefits, exercise boosts one’s mood and outlook, thus improving the patient’s quality of the life.
Types of Appropriate Exercise
It would be inappropriate to assume that cancer patients could keep up with healthy patients in terms of endurance and stamina; however, this does not mean that they cannot attain some sort of physical activity. It is important to note that not all cancers warrant the same type of exercise. For example, those whose cancers have spread to the skeletal system would want to avoid weight-bearing exercises or weight training; placing any strain on the bones is not advisable. However, appropriate activity would include aquatic exercise or swimming and, in some cases, yoga.
For more ideas on exercise and other emotional support cancer patients can look to support groups. There are groups for all types of cancers including even mesothelioma support groups. Patients should always seek the advice of their cancer health care team prior to beginning any exercise regimen.
Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She became particularly interested in ways cancer patients can cope with the side-effects of their treatment after her mother became an oncology nurse for lung cancer.
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