Many of us know that regular exercise has numerous benefits. It can help you improve your weight, strengthen your muscles, and even decrease high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But did you know that exercise can help you beat cancer? That’s why it is an integral part of Beaufort Memorial’s cancer rehabilitation program.
“I am a big proponent of exercise during a patient’s cancer journey and treatment,” says Susanne Baisch, FNP-BC, AOCNP, a board-certified nurse practitioner at Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists. “I find exercise to be the best ‘prescription’ to offer patients suffering from fatigue, which is a very common side effect of cancer treatment.”
Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Patients
“Patients who exercise during their cancer treatment tend to be able to manage their treatment side effects in a more effective fashion, and they have a more optimistic and positive outlook on their treatment,” Baisch says. “I also find patients develop a sense of empowerment and encouragement when they exercise in a gym like setting.”
More studies are showing that cancer patients benefit from exercise. According to the American Cancer Society, exercise during cancer treatment can:
- Keep or improve your physical abilities (how well you can use your body to do things)
- Improve your balance, lowering risk of falls and broken bones
- Lessen nausea
- Improve blood flow to your legs and lower the risk of blood clots
- Keep muscles from wasting due to inactivity
- Lessen symptoms of tiredness (fatigue)
- Lower your risk of heart disease
- Lessen your risk of osteoporosis (weak bones that are more likely to break)
- Make you less dependent on others for help with normal activities of daily living
- Improve your self-esteem
- Lower the risk of being anxious and depressed
- Improve your ability to keep social contacts
- Help you control your weight
- Improve your quality of life
“I encourage patients to add exercise, including regular walking and muscle strengthening, to limit muscle weakness and inactivity, which occurs for many when undergoing chemotherapy and immune therapy treatment,” Baisch says. “I refer patients to LifeFit Wellness Center for personal assistance and training with an exercise physiologist. For those who do not prefer a gym setting, I encourage walking and muscle strengthening at home. Moving from a sitting to standing position with a chair nearby can replicate squats to help with muscle strength, and even cans of food from the pantry can act as weights.”
Read More: The Sleep-Cancer Connection
Exercise is so beneficial for cancer patients that the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) recently issued new guidelines that recommend exercise as a part of the treatment plan for all cancer patients.
The lead author of those guidelines, Dr. Prue Cormie, says “If we could turn the benefits of exercise into a pill, it would be demanded by patients, prescribed by every cancer specialist and subsidized by government. It would be seen as a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
Read More: Becoming a Cancer Survivor
How to Get Started with Exercise During Cancer Treatments
- First, have a conversation with your oncologist. Make sure he or she knows you are interested in getting started with an exercise program. Your oncologist might have specific recommendations or guidelines for you to follow as you begin. Depending on the facility you join, medical clearance from a physician may be required prior to joining.
- Use the buddy system. If you’re going to exercise on your own (at home, outdoors, etc.), it is a good idea to bring someone with you to help you monitor how you are responding to exercise.
- Get professional guidance. Consider setting up some appointments with a personal trainer who can teach you appropriate exercises, based on your goals and limitations.
- Start out slowly and at a low intensity. As your body adapts to the exercise, you may be able to go at a higher intensity. But, take small steps in the beginning to stay safe and minimize your risk of injury.
At the Beaufort Memorial LifeFit Wellness Center, a full staff of exercise physiologists and a registered nurse are available to assist you, wherever you are on the continuum of cancer treatment. Exercise can be the key to maximizing your quality of life when dealing with cancer. LifeFit offers a free three-month exercise program for those recently diagnosed with cancer, as well as a free pre-surgery session with a physical therapist regarding lymphedema prevention and management.
Call 843-522-5635 to speak with a LifeFit team member about starting your exercise program.