| Studies show that cancer patients can benefit | | | | and cancer treatment can be very stressful and |
| from exercise. However, the cancer patient | | | | depressing. |
| should use caution and consult with their physician | | | | The type of exercise for the cancer patient is |
| before undertaking an exercise program. There | | | | not that different. Everyone can benefit from |
| are certain precautions and contraindications to | | | | weight resistance, cardiovascular/aerobic and |
| exercise which include severe pain, infection, | | | | flexibility exercises. |
| severe shortness of breath, acute bone and joint | | | | Cancer patients may have to start with a low to |
| pain, platelets lower than 50,000 per microliter, | | | | moderate intensity and build up from there. A |
| dizziness causing difficulty in balancing and fever. If | | | | cancer patient may work around their symptoms |
| these contraindications do not exist, your doctor | | | | and limitations during cancer therapy. This means |
| will be able to tell you if you can began a low to | | | | that if there is fatigue and/or nausea due to |
| moderate intensity exercise program. | | | | cancer treatment, perhaps that day a short walk |
| Patients undergoing cancer treatment will be able | | | | and/or some mild and relaxing yoga poses can be |
| to maintain endurance, strength, and function by | | | | performed. The point is to try to work with and |
| performing moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. | | | | around any limitations so that you can continue |
| Although there may be fatigue due to cancer | | | | receiving the benefits of exercise. Patients that |
| treatment, exercising during this time may diminish | | | | are too weak to get out of bed, can move their |
| the side effects associated with treatment. | | | | arms and legs as if bicycling or doing |
| Exercise increases circulation, oxygen intake, | | | | range-of-motion exercises. Once a patient can get |
| tones the cardiovascular system, improves | | | | out of bed, the next step would be exercising |
| appetite, promotes better digestion, facilitates | | | | while sitting in a chair followed by exercising while |
| elimination, improves the metabolic rate, lowers | | | | holding on to the chair. |
| cholesterol, lowers blood pressure and stimulates | | | | It is never to late to start exercising and cancer |
| the lymphatic system. | | | | patients have a better chance of maintaining their |
| Also, there are biological mechanisms resulting | | | | independence and strength. With exercise, the |
| from exercise which have powerful | | | | cancer patient will also be able to maintain a |
| anti-depressive and stress-controlling effects. This | | | | positive outlook and handle stress. |
| is profoundly important since a cancer diagnosis | | | | |