Manage Symptoms, Improve Quality of Life When Living with Cancer
1st in a Series of Living with Chronic Conditions.
Research shows that increasing physical activity lowers the risk for 13 types of cancers, including liver and kidney cancers and myeloid leukemia. It also lowers the risk of dying from breast, colorectal and prostate cancers.
Being obese also increases the risk of certain cancers. Exercise helps to reduce obesity and maintain a healthy body weight. By improving one’s physical condition, the body is strengthened to better able withstand treatment and build a healthier immune system.
As a bonus, exercise also works to improve one’s mood, appetite, and sleep!
Many experts now believe that exercise can be a very effective way of preventing cancer / chronic diseases and reducing symptoms. A study published in 2021 found that exercise may help halt or slow the growth of tumors. The study raises the possibility that exercise kills cancer cells.
Cancer and its treatment can cause serious health issues that compromise the physical and mental well-being of affected individuals. They will benefit from rehabilitation and exercise.
Cancer patients who exercise regularly experience fewer and less severe side effects from treatments. The possibility of cancer recurrence and/or dying from cancer is lessened. Objectives should be maintaining strength, endurance and level of function.
How does exercise counteract cancer?
- Exercise reduces levels of inflammation and insulin, linked to some cancers.
- Exercise induces angiogenesis (creation of new blood vessels), more anti-cancer medicine is perhaps delivered (by the blood) to tumors.
- Exercise increases the circulation of immune cells that attack cancer, perhaps helping immunotherapy treatments work more effectively.
- Exercise helps put the patient in control, where cancer has created a loss of control.
- Exercise causes your body to release proteins called myokines into your blood. These proteins aid the immune system’s fight and even kill cancer cells.
Which exercise is right for me?
However, exercising during cancer and cancer treatment is not a “one-size-fits-all”. Goals of exercise therapy differ depending on: whether or not an individual is receiving new treatment; is in remission; is receiving treatment for a recurrence; whether or not it’s local or metastatic; the side effects of a particular treatment.
Exercising should be individualized to one’s abilities, minimizing complications and maximizing benefits. However, it’s important to talk to a health care provider before starting to exercise. Learn what exercises to do and how to do them safely.
- Individuals with low immunity due to treatment should avoid exercising in public gyms. Ask your care provider when it is safe to exercise in a gym with other people.
- Treatment can reduce platelet level causing a higher risk for bleeding. Perhaps avoid more strenuous sports.
- Walking is a good option.
Effects of Exercise on Symptoms of Cancer and the Adverse Effects of Cancer Therapy
| Prescribed Exercise | Bone Loss | Muscle : Fat Imbalance | Weight Loss Weakness | Neuropathy | Lymphedema |
| Aerobic Weight (moderate intensity) | X include water exercise & yoga | X | X | ||
| Balance | X | ||||
| Pain Depression/Anxiety | Fatigue | Sleep Disorder | Quality of Life | Self Esteem | |
| Aerobic Weight (impact) | X | X | X | X | |
| Resistance (strength) | X | X | X | ||
| Flexibility (relaxation) | X | X | X |
Nancy L. Fitness 