All the latest research findings conclude that starting an exercise program before, during or after cancer treatment has many benefits including reduced fatigue and bones loss, less nausea, depression, and pain, as well as reduced weight gain and recovery time. A properly designed cancer exercise program can also improve endurance, strength, self esteem, appetite and cognition. The challenge with exercise for cancer patients is getting started with exercise that promotes optimal health and fitness vs. something that is totally counterproductive.
According to Dr. Anna Schwartz, cancer survivor and author of Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for Patients and Survivors
, "developing an exercise program, whether you are a healthy cancer patient or one who has become significantly debilitated from treatment or the effects of your disease, requires creating a program designed specifically for your current physical ability, physical limitations, past experience with exercise and treatment regimen." Below are some factors to consider and some cancer exercise tips to help you get started.What type of cancer do you have? An individual with prostate cancer may need completely different exercises than an individual with lymphoma. While a woman with breast cancer has entirely different exercise needs than other cancer survivors and these needs can even vary within this type of cancer depending on the type of treatment. Customizing your program to your type of cancer is critical to healing. Cancer Fitness Tips: Recovering from prostate cancer? Focus on core strength first. Recovering from breast cancer surgery? Focus on shoulder and chest mobility first.
What type of treatment will you be receiving or have you received? The type of treatment you’re undergoing is a big factor that determines how often you can exercise, with how much intensity, and for how long. A treatment that is aggressive and causes severe fatigue and nausea requires a different exercise prescription than a treatment that is time consuming and causes discomfort, pain, or skin irritation. Cancer Fitness Tips: Not exhausted or dizzy? Try 15-30 min. of circuit training or walking 3-4 x per week. Completely fatigued and nauseated? Try seated yoga poses for 10 min. a day. Having balance problems and depression? Try a quick and easy stationary bike ride while watching a funny t.v. show any time you feel terrible.
What type of side effects are you experiencing? Are your side effects mainly physical or are they also mental and emotional. An exercise program that will help you recover faster must help alleviate all your symptoms not just focus on fitness. Regardless of where you were with your fitness before, it’s your current state of health and your weekly response to treatment and exercise that matters most. Cancer Fitness Tips: Experiencing severe depression and joint pain? Try a quick mobility routine and 5 min. of uplifting cardio like Zumba. Dealing with mobility issues, muscle loss and weakness due to surgery? Try 10 min. of functional training and flow yoga.
Keep in mind that the more you customize your exercise to your needs the better the result and the faster you will reach your fitness goals.
Learn more about customizing exercise for cancer patients from Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for Patients and Survivors
