The Overwhelming Benefits of Fitness With Cancer
This is a guest post by David Haas, a patient advocate and researcher for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. He contacted me and asked if I would be willing to run this. I thought it was an important message, so here it is. - Hans
Many people that are diagnosed with cancer, especially rare forms such as mesothelioma want to know why their doctors want them to exercise. They already have cancer and they think they are supposed to rest and reserve their energy to help them get through their treatments with more energy and more overall health. Those that have cancer should, just like the rest of the world, get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week to promote the optimum health of their bodies. Those that have cancer will benefit just as much, if not more in some cases, from exercise as those without it.
Some of the benefits of exercise for anyone, those with and without cancer, include a lessened risk of heart disease, healthier bones, muscles and joints, weight control and a reduced risk of death. However, some people need more to motivate them to get some exercise. For a cancer patient, the biggest benefit of exercise is the fact that it promotes physical and emotional well being, which is something that is often missing in those that have been diagnosed with cancer. Those who promote their physical and emotional well being have a better quality of life, which means it will be easier for those people to fight their cancer and overcome their diagnosis. Quality of life is so important in fighting cancer and it has to start from the inside out. Exercise will produce endorphins that will eliminate the feelings of depression that cancer and its subsequent treatment will promote, leaving the patient feeling better about life in general. In addition, exercise will make a person feel better about their body, and looking good is always a way to feel more confident, which boosts their quality of life.
Additionally, something that many people are unaware of is that exercise has a way of reducing a person’s risk of getting cancer by as much as 40 percent. Those that already have cancer may not find this information very helpful, but they should. Exercise and physical fitness in a person with cancer can reduce their risk of have a relapse of cancer later in life by the same percentage. If that doesn’t motivate cancer patients to get up and get moving, nothing will.
The benefits of exercise in cancer patients are so enormous that doctors no longer want their patients to rest. In fact, those that exercise will need less rest than those that do not. It is true that cancer treatment is difficult on a person’s body and that the side effects are difficult to endure. However, those who exercise with cancer will be able to experience fewer side effects from their treatments, which makes treatment much easier.
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