Benefits of Exercise after Cancer

This is a feature article that was written by Liz Davies. Thank you Liz for your contribution!

Cancer patients experience a wide range of symptoms due to their treatments. Successfully beating cancer isn't the end of the fight. In fact, a patient may still feel a wide range of symptoms after they have officially beat cancer. Many of these symptoms come from the treatment itself.

These symptoms are often outside of the control of the patient. However, fatigue, depression, hopelessness and some physical pain can actually be relieved by exercise and proper nutrition. Before starting an exercise routine, patients should discuss the types of exercise they are capable of performing to avoid injury.

Fatigue can wear down a person with cancer and make it hard for them to get through their day. It can last for months even after your treatments. These treatments are important to save lives but the fatigue can often make them feel unbearable. Exercise will help increase metabolism and boost energy levels. An increased metabolism automatically creates more energy as it causes the body to break down and utilize all the calories in the body more effectively.

As a result, fatigue will often begin to disappear. Depression and hopelessness are the next symptoms that are lessened by exercise. These symptoms are relieved due to endorphins that are released in your body during exercise. These endorphins are designed to help relieve physical pain and also help boost your mood. So, endorphins offer a dual benefit: relieving physical as well as mental pain. This benefit has been tested multiple times in patients, with the result always being positive.

Other studies have also found that patients that are physically fit, active and not overweight have lower remission rates and higher success rates. Patients that simply cannot be bothered to exercise may find their cancer coming back quickly and with even worse symptoms. Exercise has been shown to eliminate remission rates of certain cancers by almost 50%. In fact, exercise and proper nutrition can even serve as a way to eliminate the chance of getting cancer in the first place.

What kinds of exercise are appropriate after cancer? That all depends on the severity of the disease and the health of the patient. Patients should always talk to their doctor before beginning a routine. Aerobics, strength, balance and stretching exercises should all be integrated but some cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma causes patients to focus on more cardio based exercises. Proper nutrition should focus on highly balanced, high protein diets designed to rebuild your body after surviving your cancer treatments.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April. If you have any questions, contact Liz at healthylizd@gmail.com.