That said, I was approached by a reader last week who asked to guest author a post in my blog. Seeing that updating this hasn't been on my priority list lately, I thought it was the perfect time. Melanie is currently a Master's student in Chicago with a passion that stems from her grandmother's cancer diagnosis. She was poking through some fitness blogs on Google and found mine. We've emailed a bit back and forth and she wrote the following post on the benefits of fitness for those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. In her spare time, you can find Melanie trying new vegan recipes, on her yoga mat, or spending time with her family. You can reach Melanie at the email address linked above, or on her Facebook!
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Fitness After Cancer: What Helps the Pain Go Away?
Cancer is a definite lifestyle change. For those who developed cancer from their own habits like smoking, or even those who didn’t with something like mesothelioma, it can mean doing things very differently right down to the physical activities you choose every day to the food that you eat. Most cancer patients have to go through a rigorous treatment process that includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which produces muscle loss, fatigue and body aches. With the lack of activity, the human body can quickly deteriorate and become accustomed to weakness. However, exercise has been proven to help reduce cancer risk in some patients. Of course, it's important to check with a doctor before starting any new physical routine.
How Exercise Helps
For one, exercise improves a person's energy level and strengthens muscles. It also can lower the risk of heart disease, strengthen the bones, reduce blood clots, build confidence and create more of an independent lifestyle for a cancer patient. If you have issues with nausea, weight gain, fatigue and other side effects from cancer treatment, physical activity can help to improve each of those in little ways. Getting regular activity is a key component to getting through cancer treatment and improving your wellbeing beyond the days of treatment.
Where to Begin
For one thing, you shouldn't start with hardcore exercise, particularly if you don't have a lot of experience with working out. Short walks, stationary stretching, swimming, light aerobics, elliptical machines and light weightlifting are a few ways that you can start to exercise without choosing any really stressful exercises for the body. Remember that the body is still healing from all of the treatment and will need a lot of rest despite a return of energy after surgery and radiation.
Some Tips for Cancer Patients
The best thing to do is exercise a little bit every day. Just 20 minutes of light exercise can improve your energy and muscular strength by building upon each day. In addition, it will help your flexibility, endurance and mobility. In many cases, it's easier to do a few minutes of activity every couple of hours, which can build up to a full hour or at least 45 minutes a day. Resistance and light weights for the body are also things that you can add to improve your fitness routines.
Low Impact Exercises for Cancer PatientsThere are some creative routines and machines developed for those who have lower energy levels, fatigue, reduced muscle strength and increased joint problems. Low impact exercises are called such because they don't put pressure on the body's weak points or any strain on physically weaker areas. Yoga, row machines, elliptical machines, swimming, short walks, cycling, hiking and a variety of other activities can be considered easy to manage and yet helpful to increase your muscle strength and energy balance.
Fitness is a great way for cancer patients to alleviate stress and regain muscle as well as a better mental state. If you have been thinking of beginning a new physical activity routine, remember to speak with your oncologist about the effects of the activity on your body.
