25 Apr
Researchers have known for over a decade that exercise offers a number of benefits to cancer patients. Studies have shown exercise helps to counteract the side effects of treatments while increasing their effectiveness. There are still many holes in the research to be filled, but there is an even greater need for cancer programs across the country to take the steps needed to include physical fitness experts into treatment teams. Due to patient demands and the influx of accredited trainers, this is starting to happen.
Though many studies and reviews of the published literature have occurred in the years since, it is illustrative to note that back in 2000, researchers were already aware of the need for recommending a general exercise prescription for cancer patients. That prescription is the same given to the general public, consisting of 20-30 minutes a day for 3-5 days a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Though researchers then were careful to exclude bone cancers, due to the risk of further injury, a fitness expert has the knowledge to design an exercise program for any patient, including those diagnosed with childhood leukemia or mesothelioma.
How Much Exercise is Needed to See the Benefits?
Though the goal amount of exercise is stated above, we all know that treatments and the cancer itself can often have debilitating effects on physical fitness and stamina. Also, many people are not in the best of health when they receive the initial diagnosis. Though the goal is to get 150 minutes a week of exercise, some patients feel lucky to just get out of bed. Fortunately, the benefits of exercise for quality of life and relief of symptoms like fatigue, depression, appetite loss and constipation do not rely solely on meeting a set number of minutes a week.
The underlying goal to working toward physical fitness?is to increase the body?s adaptability. When the body has to work, it is forced to make changes in the allocation of resources, and it is these changes that are responsible for the benefits. To put it bluntly, even passive range-of-motion stretching for bed-ridden patients will offer benefits.
More exercise is certainly better, when done under the care of a fitness expert consulting with the treating doctor, but everyone has to start somewhere. Make physical fitness a part of your treatment plan, and enjoy the benefits of a more active lifestyle for many years to come!
- David Haas, Awareness Program Advocate, Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance
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