Cancer patients undergo tremendous stress - emotional, physical and mental. From diagnosis to treatment and recovery, cancer drains patients of energy, often causing them to fight just to lead a normal life again. Once cancer is gone, patients are Hell-bent on preventing the cancer from sneaking up again. Leading a healthy lifestyle becomes priority.
Research suggests that exercise benefits cancer patients and survivors regardless of the type of cancer they have or had, from a common cancer like breast cancer to a rare disease like mesothelioma. According to WebMD.com, exercise can lengthen the survival rate for cancer victims and help prevent cancer from recurring for survivors.
According to the New York Times, recent studies suggest that exercise may even be a form of treatment in and of itself. As little as two and a half hours of exercise every week may lower the risk of dying from cancer.
Being overweight after treatment can shorten survival time or increase the risk of recurrence. An active lifestyle can help combat weight gain by improving muscle tone and cutting down body mass. However, it’s not necessary to engage in intense workouts - it’s more important to avoid being inactive. Even light cardio, like walking, is better than not doing anything.
Exercise helps to improve a cancer patient’s or survivor’s quality of life overall. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, exercise can also help improve mood and self-esteem, increase energy while fighting against fatigue, and lower the risk for other diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Brisk movement increases blood flow throughout the body and brain, helping people to think more clearly and sharply. Exercise is also linked to combating depression and lowering stress and anxiety - all side effects of dealing with cancer.
However, it’s not recommended that every single cancer patient hop on the treadmill immediately following treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation can be highly draining, causing anemia and fatigue, which lower energy. It’s not safe to start an exercise regime if you’re feeling weak - wait until your energy returns and slowly work up to a regular workout schedule. Also, treatment can weaken the immune system, so avoid public gyms until your white blood cell count is back to normal.
Written by David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger
Written by David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger
Useful... I didn't knew that exercise prevent cancer recurrence.
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