As any cancer survivor knows well, when you are undergoing treatment; oftentimes, the last thing you want to do is exercise. And for quite a long time, most doctors agreed that patients being treated for cancer should rest and reduce their physical activities so as to preserve their energy.
However, over the last several years, new research has begun to show how exercise is often not only safe and possible during cancer treatments but may also be an integral part of keeping cancer in remission for survivors.
Exercise has been shown to have many benefits for cancer patients, including lowering fatigue, lessening nausea, and reducing the risk of anxiety and depression. According to Dr. Kerry Courneya, the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity in Cancer and Cancer at the University of Alberta, in a study of 242 women with breast cancer, moderate exercise was shown to not only improve their strength, self-esteem, body mass, and fitness, it also increased their ability to finish chemotherapy on time.
Furthermore, doctors now believe that women who exercise after completing breast cancer treatments have a significantly lower risk of cancer recurrence. While it’s unknown exactly why exercise helps keep cancer survivors cancer free, it’s likely because of two factors. First, regular exercise may boost white blood cell count, helping combat the loss of white blood cells that occurs during chemotherapy. Secondly, exercise is a key factor in maintaining a healthy body composition. Increased body mass has been known to affect higher death rates for all cancers, but in particular it has been linked with increased risks in breast cancer and multiple myeloma. Even cancers from environmental toxins like pleural mesothelioma have much higher survival rates when patients have regular exercise.
Of course, it can be difficult for patients who have just received chemotherapy to begin exercising again as the treatments often leave patients exhausted. One key recommendation is to begin with very low intensity, moderate workouts. A good example would be a daily brisk walk.
It’s extremely important that patients always follow their doctor’s recommendations regarding exercise, as those with severe anemia should delay any strenuous activity until their red blood cell count has increased and people receiving radiation therapy must avoid swimming pools as chlorine irritates the treated area. But, in the end, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that exercise is important to maintaining a healthy and cancer-free life during and after cancer treatment.
From Debbie: Many thanks to Trevor for writing such a helpful article.
Photo is of Trevor Bradshaw sent to me to be included with the article.
