More and more research is supporting both the physical and mental benefits of exercise along the cancer journey.
The benefits of exercise in general have long been understood and for cancer patients and survivors the benefits for symptom management and recovery are exciting. Exercise has been recommended as a supportive therapy by many international cancer societies for the past 10 years or more. Since two in five Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime, let’s take a closer look at this helpful tool – exercise.
Exercise and movement are safe and beneficial at any stage of the cancer experience. From pre-diagnosis, or prevention; through pre-, during, and post-treatment; into rehab; and in the transition from patient to cancer survivor, exercise and movement play a vital role. Along each of these stages the recommendations will vary but the benefits remain.
The most important benefit among cancer patients and survivors is the positive effect movement has on cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Approximately 80-100 per cent of cancer patients will experience CRF. CRF is often described as the ‘stop you in your tracks’ type of low energy that interferes with usual functioning, is unlike every day fatigue and can be quite debilitating and distressing. However, less than 5% of oncologists will discuss treatment options for their patients and many patients are left to deal with this symptom on their own.
It is important to note that 45% of patients with CRF will need some type of treatment for CRF and exercise is a critical tool in fatigue management. Exercise is medicine!
The general goals of an exercise plan for cancer patients include: maintain a healthy body weight; reduce strength loss; maintain bone health; diminish treatment side effects; and improve quality of life. Each patient will have unique needs and their program should be based on their history, cancer, treatment and individual needs and preferences.
The guidelines for exercise are different for cancer patients too, and include 90 minutes of moderate cardio exercise per week, two sessions of strength exercises a week and flexibility exercises most days of the week.
Rest and recovery are also very important. Active rest days should also be included. It is important to listen to your body and slowly build up to these guidelines. Avoid overdoing it and understand that moving more is the main goal in the beginning.
Cancer patients are often surprised at how helpful movement and ‘mild’ levels of exercise are on their wellbeing and in managing their symptoms. As patients move more, they will be able to continue to work toward a regular home-based exercise program.
Exercise and movement help to return a sense of control back to the cancer patient. It changes the focus to the positive, on what one can do. All movement should feel good … do what feels good. Keep it simple in the beginning, remember that movement is possible and important. Start by doing what you can, when you can. Think “some” is good, “more” is better, but always listen to your body.
A useful way to do this is by tracking energy and fatigue levels. On a one to 10 scale, rate your fatigue and energy levels before and after your bout of activity. Be mindful and take note of any changes you might be noticing. Be prepared to change the intensity or duration of your planned work out based on this information. Watch as your levels of fatigue and energy change over time and use this to foster motivation for your program.
Be sure to embrace maintenance as a positive during your experience when needed as well.
Activity levels in patients living with and beyond cancer are quite low. Only 10% report being active during treatment and although slightly higher, just 20 to 30% are active following treatment. Reported barriers were that people were unsure of what to do and had no local programing. Reach out to a Registered Kinesiologist to guide you and you will soon be experiencing the immediate benefits of exercise on your mind, body and mood.
Finally, it is important to note that as the focus of exercise for the cancer survivor starts to change to regaining physical functions there are additional benefits from exercise. Cancer survivors engaging in regular exercise will have a benefit from a significant decreased risk of recurrence and improved survival rates.
For more information about any of the free services offered by the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, visit www.mmfht.ca or call the Drayton/Palmerston office at 519-638-2110, Clifford office at 519-327-4777 or like the team on Facebook.(MintoMapletonFamilyHealthTeam) or follow on Instagram (mintomapleton_fht) for healthy living tips and upcoming programs and events.
Submitted by Sandy Turner, RKin, Minto-Mapleton FHT
