Cancer and Exercise

Cancer and ExerciseKeep-Calm-Exercise-On-via-@FitfulFocus

Exercise can reduce risk for other chronic diseases, may have a role in preventing future cancers or recurrences, and may impact quality of life after cancer. Cancer patients often experience a decrease in activity that may lead to decreased muscle strength, increased fatigue and weakness, and increased risk for osteoporosis and other chronic conditions (i.e., high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease).

A small pilot study of 24 women with breast cancer assessed fitness, mood, and body esteem before and after a 12-week supervised exercise intervention (1 hour of aerobic exercise three times per week). Women who exercised had significant improvements in fitness and body esteem and a trend toward improved mood, compared to those who did not exercise.

A growing number of studies have looked at the impact of physical activity on cancer recurrence and long-term survival. (Cancer recurrence is cancer that comes back after treatment.) Exercise has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, body composition, fatigue, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, happiness, and several quality of life factors in cancer survivors. At least 20 studies of people with breast, colorectal, prostate, and ovarian cancer have suggested that physically active cancer survivors have a lower risk of cancer recurrence and improved survival compared with those who are inactive. Randomized clinical trials are still needed to better define the impact of exercise on such outcomes.

American Cancer Society.  Read more at:

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorshipduringandaftertreatment/stayingactive/physical-activity-and-the-cancer-patient