The Importance of Exercise and Cancer Care

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, exercise may be one of the last things on your mind, but there are plenty of reasons not to ignore it, even while you are in treatment. More and more health care professionals recognize exercise as a very important part of cancer recovery and treatment, and there is plenty of research to prove why.
In the past, people who were diagnosed with cancer were often told by their doctor to rest and reduce their physical activity. This may be true if movement causes severe pain, rapid heart rate or shortness of breath, but new research has shown that exercise is not only possible during cancer treatment, but can improve physical functioning and quality of life. Too much rest can result in loss of function, strength and range of motion. Regular exercise is an effective way to counteract these negative effects. Most cancer patients notice a loss of energy. During chemotherapy and radiation, about 70% of patients have fatigue. For many, fatigue is severe and limits their activity. Inactivity leads to muscle wasting and loss of function, however studies have shown aerobic training can reduce fatigue and make it possible to do normal daily activities without major limitations. Physical activity may boost the immune systems ability to suppress cancer cells. When one exercises, weight and body fat can be reduced, which could produce a lower estrogen level. Exercise speeds the passage of food through the digestive system, possibly leaving less time for carcinogenic substances to damage the intestines and colon. Studies have shown 30-60% of cancer patients improve in depression, mood elevation, self efficacy and pain management.
While there are many reasons for being physically active during cancer treatment, each person’s exercise program should be based on what is safe, effective and enjoyable for that person. The type of cancer you have, your cancer treatment and your fitness level all factor in to your exercise prescription. Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. This is especially important if you are taking treatments that affect your lungs (such as bleomycin or radiation to the chest), your heart (such as doxorubicin or epirubicin) or if you have a risk of heart or lung disease.
Exercise safety and precautions for cancer survivors
• Do not exercise if you have anemia (low RBC count during your treatment)
• If you have low WBC’s or medications that lower your ability to fight infection, exercise at home. Avoid public gyms and other public places until you are back at safe levels• Do not exercise if the levels of minerals in your blood such as sodium or potassium are abnormal. This can happen if you have a lot of vomiting or diarrhea.
• Do not exercise if you have unrelieved pain, nausea/vomiting or any other symptoms of concern.• Watch for unexplained weight gain, swollen ankles or shortness of breath while at rest or with only a small amount of exertion.
• To avoid irritation, do not expose skin that has had radiation to chlorinated pools. • If you still have a catheter, avoid water and other exposures that may cause infections. Also avoid resistance training that uses muscles in the area of the catheter to avoid dislodging it.
• Do not exercise above moderate levels of exertion without speaking to your doctor or cancer exercise specialist.The best level of exercise for someone with cancer has not been established, but the goal is to have your exercise program help you maintain endurance, muscular strength and flexibility. The more you exercise, the more your ability to exercise can improve and your ability to function can improve. For more information contact me,
Diane Henry
www.rawlivingfuel.com
260.245.0128