In the past, a cancer diagnosis came with talk about treatment options and, depending on the type and stage, a more or less strident urging from the doctor to take it easy. Now, it is more likely you will be asked about current exercise programs and assessed for physical fitness. Doctors have learned from the growing mountain of evidence and recommendations from cancer research organizations that physically fit patients can expect better response to treatments and those facing terminal cancers have a longer life expectancy.
Though the going has been slow in getting cancer clinics to retain fitness experts on staff and insurance companies to fund the use of personal trainers, it is only a matter of time. Even for those in poor shape at diagnosis, exercise has been shown to offer the widest range of benefits for any alternative treatment. The evidence is available to push exercise into the mainstream of treatment strategies.
Quality of Life Matters
As ambiguous medical phrases go, quality of life ranks high in the oncologist's office, and it has been made more so by evidence of the benefits of exercise. Doctors have always wrestled with the distinction between life expectancy and quality of life, primarily due to the thinking that to have one meant sacrificing the other. Studies on the benefits of exercise have shown that increasing the quality of life can actually extend life expectancy.
It boils down to symptoms. There is much variation in types of cancer and stage at diagnosis, but many symptoms are common for cancer patients at some point during treatment. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, and nausea all contribute to lower quality of life. Doctors have relied on medications to treat these in the past, but exercise has been shown to reduce occurrence. In this case at least, more is better. Those who are physically fit at the time of diagnosis showed significant reduction of these symptoms, and a better quality of life is known to be a predictor of life expectancy.
Effects of Exercise
The primary effect of exercise is to prompt the more efficient use of energy resources in the body. This is the case for aerobic and anaerobic forms. The muscles begin storing more blood glucose as glycogen in preparation for the next workout, and lean muscle is created after further workouts to allow the body to store even more glycogen. This reordering of energy reserves changes body composition and helps to reduce fatigue, while increasing food cravings.
The experts recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for cancer patients able to participate in a regular program. Special circumstances and patients with mesothelioma or other terminal cancers should consult with a cancer-certified fitness expert.
David Hass’ blog is at http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/david/
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