Exercise for Cancer Care
By: Jackie Clark
Today’s cancer victims have fewer reasons to fear cancer and more reasons for a brighter hope. Research done by St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital reveals survival rates for most types of cancer have increased by extraordinary amounts. Medicines for treating cancer have become more efficacious; other domains of knowledge have increased to augment medical treatment. Recent studies indicate that exercise is a powerful prescription that can make a formidable difference in the quality of life during the treatment of cancer.
A pilot study of women over the age of 45 with primary breast cancer experienced increased health benefits by participating in an exercise program that developed aerobic fitness, flexibility, and strength. Outcomes, besides an increase in physical strength, were a boost in well being, a reduced level of distress, and an overall increase in quality of life. The study concluded that a structured exercise program was beneficial during a comprehensive treatment of breast cancer.
Men can benefit from exercise during the treatment of cancer. One of the most prevalent types of cancer in men is prostate cancer. A common treatment for prostate cancer is Androgen Deprivation Therapy—ADT—commonly known as hormone therapy. ADT causes fatigue and a loss of lean body muscle. A study of men with prostate cancer undergoing ADT revealed that the fatigue of daily life was reduced when they participated three times a week in a resistance exercise program. The study extrapolated that the quality of life was improved by resistance exercises.
Oregon Health & Science University—OHSU—has completed three studies to determine how exercise affects the quality of life of cancer patients. Traditional medicine has encouraged cancer patients to rest during chemotherapy. Cancer patients lose physical abilities during chemotherapy. They have a higher risk of osteoporosis. They have a higher risk of dying of heart disease. The results of OSHU’s studies indicate that exercise helps reduce the loss of bone density and the risk of heart disease. Their studies also confirmed that exercise reduces fatigue associated with cancer treatments and increases patient happiness.
One cancer that restricts exercise is Mesothelioma. Because the lungs are already stressed, most aerobic exercises are impractical, but other forms of exercise, such as yoga, or short walks, or mild resistance training, can improve the quality of life. Mesothelioma survival rate can be stretched by a few years for younger patients who get treatment and participate in an exercise regimen.
Statistically, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive weight are linked to deaths by cancer. Exercise can be powerful guardian against developing cancer by breaking those links. If you exercise, you will be more psychologically and physiologically stronger to combat cancer, should you develop cancer. Research strongly suggests that, under a doctor’s protective care, exercise is beneficial to the quality of life before, during, and after cancer.
Thank you Jackie for sharing an insightful piece.
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