Staying physically active during cancer treatment can offer tremendous benefits, but it’s crucial to approach it safely and thoughtfully. Whether you're navigating chemotherapy or recovering from surgery, exercise can boost your overall well-being, alleviate some side effects, and even improve your energy levels. However, before starting or continuing any fitness routine, your first point of call should always be consulting your doctor. It’s essential to get medical clearance to ensure you’re healthy enough to participate in physical activities and understand any limitations based on your treatment.
Once you have the all-clear, incorporating gentle, consistent exercise can be a game-changer in how you feel during your cancer journey. Let’s dive into a few practical tips to keep you safely moving.
1. Light Aerobic Activity: Listen to Your Body
One of the simplest yet most effective forms of exercise while managing cancer is light-intensity aerobic fitness. Start with a goal of around 20 minutes of continuous movement, but remember: the intensity and duration should always match how you're feeling.
On tougher days, such as when you're undergoing chemotherapy, aim for just five minutes of gentle movement. This could be walking, using a stationary bike, hand cycling, or even using a cross-trainer. On days when you feel stronger, try pushing that time to 20 minutes. A key tip here is to engage your lower body on stronger days, since it demands more vascular effort than your upper body. On weaker days, it’s okay to focus on less demanding movements, like upper body exercises, to conserve energy while still keeping active.
2. Reducing Nausea in Breast Cancer Patients
If you're a woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer, exercise can help significantly reduce the discomfort of nausea, one of the most common side effects. Research shows that incorporating a simple biking routine for just 10 weeks can make a noticeable difference.
Here’s the breakdown: Aim for three bike sessions per week, with each session lasting around 20 minutes. After this 10-week period, many women report their nausea symptoms decreasing by almost half. That’s a remarkable result for such a manageable time commitment. Staying consistent can help alleviate some of the physical stress that often accompanies chemotherapy.
3. Resistance Training and Lymphedema: Use Compression for Comfort
Resistance training can be highly beneficial during cancer treatment, but it’s important to keep it light and manageable. If you’re dealing with lymphedema, a common side effect where swelling occurs due to fluid build up in soft tissues, there’s an additional step to protect yourself.
Wearing a compression garment while you engage in resistance exercises can help manage lymphedema by encouraging the movement of excess fluid towards your lymph nodes, where it can be processed and removed from your body. Keep the intensity low, and don’t push yourself too hard – the goal is to maintain strength without overloading your system.
Conclusion: Stay Safe, Stay Active
Exercising with cancer isn’t about pushing yourself to your limits, but rather staying active in a way that supports your body. Light aerobic movements, targeted sessions for reducing side effects, and careful strength training can keep you feeling healthier and more energized through your treatment journey. Always listen to your body and modify your routine based on how you feel on a particular day.
And remember: staying connected with your healthcare team is critical. By working closely with your doctor and staying mindful of your limits, you can safely enjoy the many benefits of exercise, even during cancer treatment.
~ Conner George
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