exercising with cancer
Exercising with Cancer – let us explain why
The body of evidence supporting the use of exercise as an adjunct therapy in cancer management is continually growing, and it is something we really care about!
With so much information around the questions continue to build, so let us explain why it is so important to consider exercise at every stage of cancer management.
Why should I consider exercise in my cancer management?
As we learn more about its impact, we understand that exercise benefits most people during and after cancer treatment. It is currently considered the best medicine alongside standard treatment, and is safe to every individual if tailored and delivered by a trained health professional such as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. In a nutshell, exercise helps to:
- lessen the impact of cancer and its treatments
- increase our tolerance for treatments
- promote physical and mental well being
- lower the relative risk of dying from cancer or experiencing cancer recurrence
How can exercise help me?
When we think of cancer therapies, many of us think of immediate treatment side-effects, but don’t always consider how they can change our life after cancer. Exercise is continually found to positively impact the management of most cancer-related side-effects, be it short term or throughout survivorship. Improving quality of life can make a huge difference to each individual, and we consider side-effect management to be a large part of this. Some evidence-based benefits for the use of exercise in the management of common cancer-related adverse effects include:
- reduced fatigue; improved tolerance for daily activities and exercise
- reduced rates of mental health concerns; depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia etc.
- improvements in muscle mass, mobility and daily functionality
- increased cardiovascular function and reduced risk of cardiac toxicity
- minimised risk of co-morbidities including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis
Why do I need someone to help me?
Whether exercise is something that you have always incorporated into your lifestyle, or it is a new consideration, it is important to have the right people guide you through this process. Management of side effects during and following cancer treatment can be difficult and sometimes confusing, but you can rely on a trained Accredited Exercise Physiologist to show you the right pathway.
We know the correct balance of graded exercise exposure that will reduce your risk of co-morbidities while increasing you physical fitness and achieving your individual goals. We also make a great sounding board for your concerns with treatment, and your achievements along the way!
We are there to support you, and to coordinate with your medical team at any stage of you cancer management. If exercise isn’t something you have considered, pick up the phone and ask us more about how we can help you today!
