by Jeffrey Richard Smith, MD
A cancer diagnosis and treatment can wreak havoc on your life, leading to exhaustion, stress and depression. But that doesn’t mean you need to surrender your active lifestyle. In fact, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t. The challenges of treatment may make it difficult to continue as if nothing has changed. If you are runner, for example, you may not have the energy to run four or five miles a day. And there may be times when treatment (surgery, for example) forces you to take a break. The important thing is that you find ways to remain active with exercise or other activities. Keeping your body moving will help you both physically and mentally during your cancer journey.
Cancer treatment comes in many forms, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and radiation therapy. Whatever combination your doctor suggests, there are likely to be numerous impacts on your quality of life. There may be permanent changes to your body. Medications and other treatments may sap your energy or leave you nauseous. Your self-esteem may take a hit. Facing these physical and mental challenges, it may seem easier to retreat to the couch or bedroom to save your energy. But this can be a self-defeating approach. It may sound counterintuitive, but too much rest can actually contribute to your fatigue and make it worse. Even if you aren’t up for something particularly vigorous, even light exercise has the potential to be helpful.
Increasingly we are learning that exercise during your cancer treatment can help you sleep better, reduce fatigue and improve your quality of life. Research also suggests that physical activity can boost your treatment outcomes by improving your metabolic health and immune system. One recent study, for example, found that a structured exercise program offered significant benefits for colon cancer survivors. They were less likely to experience a recurrence of colon cancer and more likely to live longer when compared with non-exercising survivors. Another study found that breast cancer patients who exercise have a 40 percent lower risk of recurrence. Exercise can also be effective at boosting your mental well-being. One of the simplest exercises – walking – has been shown to be almost as effective as some antidepressants. Developing an exercise plan can also help deal with one of the most frustrating aspects of cancer treatment. A typical multidisciplinary care approach is likely to have you spending considerable time in treatments and visits with your care team. This can leave you feeling like life is spinning out of control. Exercise, along with diet, is one of the areas where you can make a difference on your own. The simple act of choosing when and where you exercise can help you reclaim some of that lost control over your life and health.
During treatment, you may not be able to exercise with the same intensity or frequency. But any amount of exercise will be better than nothing. Among the strategies to consider:
Before engaging in any exercise program, talk with your doctor about any limitations or areas of caution. You may need to start slowly and ramp up over time.
Orlando Health is pleased to partner with USA Track & Field (USATF) as Official Medical Network Partner. Through this partnership, Orlando Health will assist USATF to provide medical support to their athletes in our region. Orlando Health, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a private, not-for-profit healthcare organization with $9.2 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. Founded more than 100 years ago, the healthcare system is recognized around the world for its trauma care. It is also the site of an Olympic athlete training facility and operator of one of the largest and highest performing clinically integrated networks in the region. For more information, visit http://www.orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X @orlandohealth.