Exercise as medicine is an extremely important part of cancer treatment from cancer diagnosis through to remission. If there was a pill called exercise it would be prescribed to every patient.
Although sometimes exercise is the last thing an individual suffering from cancer or treatment side affects would think of doing but the evidence strongly supports exercise as one of the main treatments in fighting cancer.
Below we have outlined the benefits exercise can have at each stage in someone’s journey:
Cancer Diagnosis
- Important for mental health as it aids in reducing anxiety and depression
- Prepares the body for aggressive treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Prepares the body for surgery
- Reduces the risk of fatigue through treatment and recovery by building strength and resilience
- Lower medical expenses as it will reduce the time in hospital
- Minimize physical decline in terms of strength and fitness
During treatment and surgery
- Reduces time in hospital
- Reduces treatment side effects
- Helps the body tolerate aggressive cancer treatments
- Reduce inflammation caused by cancer medications and treatments
- Reduce muscle mass decline
Recovery
- Reduces overall recovery time
- Improves quality of life
- Reduces the risk of cancer reoccurrence
- Improves overall function to perform pre cancer daily activities
- Helps with weight management
- Reduce the side effects of ongoing medication
We at Healthfit have experience of treating all stages of cancer and would highly recommend exercise as early as possible in your cancer journey.