If you didn’t already know, October is national breast cancer awareness month. Cancer in general is a widespread disease that will touch most of our lives in some way. It is also a disease that can be managed and possibly prevented with healthy lifestyle modifications. One of the modifications that can be made is incorporating physical activity and exercise into your life.
It is increasingly accepted that maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle can help reduce the risk of developing cancer. Regular physical activity may also play a very important role in the management of cancer. I know that it almost sounds cruel to suggest that someone going through cancer treatments should exercise, but if done in an appropriate manner exercise might help the patient. A common side effect of cancer treatment is a loss of functional capacity and this leads to possible decrease in quality of life during and after treatment. To combat this decrease in functional capacity it is suggested that patients participate in exercise programs.
The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Cancer Society are both actively studying the effects of exercise programs on cancer patients. So far their results are promising. One study published by the American Cancer Society showed that cancer patients who participated in an aerobic exercise program after undergoing chemotherapy experienced physical performance increases, hemoglobin levels, and less fatigue after their treatments. Patients who did not exercise did not show these results.
Another published study followed chemotherapy and radiation therapy patients who participated in a flexibility, endurance and strength training program. These patients showed a 43 percent increase in strength and a 50 percent increase in endurance. The study also reported the patients exhibited an improvement in attitude and self image.
Using exercise to reduce cancer risk or maintain and possibly improve functional capacity during and after cancer treatment is a promising idea and should be investigated more. However, it may not be for everyone. It is important to check with your physician and cancer treatment team before starting any new activity. If they decide that exercise is a good idea for you, start slow and possibly consult a certified fitness professional to get you on the right path.
Kolby Andrews is an ACSM Clinical Exercise Specialist at Trinity Mother Frances Health and Fitness. You can contact Kolby at andrewk@tmfhs.org
