But all cancers are the same in that this disease makes the patient feel powerless. Exercise is one way to feel more in control of your body. For me, exercise started after treatment.
During my chemotherapy treatment (R-CHOP for those who know the alphabet soup of chemotherapy), I was exhausted beyond belief. I would collapse into bed with barely enough energy to lift my head. I would wake up after hours of sleep and with STILL barely enough energy to lift my head. It was a type of fatigue like no other. I would make myself laugh by saying, "I am so tired, I feel like I am on drugs...wait, I am on drugs!" I would sleep all day so that I could have at least a little energy to be with my daughter when she came home from school.
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| Back on the wagon with reward stickers for exercising |
Now, 4 years out from my cancer treatment, I am determined to do everything in my power to prevent a relapse. Eating right and exercise are now part of my lifestyle. I have tried to frame exercise and nutrition as a type of medicinal intervention. I want to prevent any mutant cells from returning and multiplying inside my body. Of course, I fall off my exercise wagon (see calendar), but I get back on because I know exercise contributes to good health.
Benefits of Exercise For Cancer Patients
by David Haas
After a person is diagnosed
with cancer, the last thing on her mind may be exercise. But exercise has been
shown to help considerably during treatment and once a patient enters
remission. According to the National Cancer Institute, exercise during
treatment helps to reduce feelings of fatigue in women with breast cancer, and
improves overall quality of life.
Fitness and exercise are also connected to surviving cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Women who walked for at least three hours a week were more likely to survive than women who did not exercise. Exercise has also shown a positive effect in people diagnosed with colon cancer, prostate cancer, or even a rare cancer like mesothelioma.
Even moderate exercise such as walking or gardening has a positive impact on patients with cancer. Physical activity lessens side effects such as tiredness and improves the level of energy a patient has. About half an hour of activity daily should be enough to reduce side effects and improve quality of life.
Fitness and exercise are also connected to surviving cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Women who walked for at least three hours a week were more likely to survive than women who did not exercise. Exercise has also shown a positive effect in people diagnosed with colon cancer, prostate cancer, or even a rare cancer like mesothelioma.
Even moderate exercise such as walking or gardening has a positive impact on patients with cancer. Physical activity lessens side effects such as tiredness and improves the level of energy a patient has. About half an hour of activity daily should be enough to reduce side effects and improve quality of life.
Exercise after
a diagnosis of cancer or during and just after treatment can improve a
patient's body image, which in turn improves her quality of life. Cancer
changes the body dramatically. Some cancers cause a person to lose a lot of
weight and muscle mass. Exercising will help to restore loss muscle and improve
a patient's self image. Lifting weights or doing another form of resistance
training will help cancer patients build muscle and strength during treatment.
Breast cancer often causes a person to gain weight during treatment. Moderate
exercise will help a patient prevent unwanted weight gain during and after treatment.
Staying physically fit by exercising has been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers in the first place and to help cancer stay in remission. Since exercise helps regulate insulin levels and prevents heart disease, it is essential for staying well after cancer goes into remission. Exercising can help reduce a patient's risk of developing other cancers such as breast or colon cancer. Patients who began an exercise program after being diagnosed with colon cancer were less likely to have the cancer recur.
Staying physically fit by exercising has been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers in the first place and to help cancer stay in remission. Since exercise helps regulate insulin levels and prevents heart disease, it is essential for staying well after cancer goes into remission. Exercising can help reduce a patient's risk of developing other cancers such as breast or colon cancer. Patients who began an exercise program after being diagnosed with colon cancer were less likely to have the cancer recur.
David Haas is a cancer patient advocate and staff writer for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog
