Cancer sufferers are less likely to exercise after
their diagnosis, which is of course understandable, due to the severe physical
effects of the disease, which can be devastating.
However recent research in Australia has indicated
regular exercise for cancer sufferers is highly beneficial in the following
ways:
§ increases the chances
of a remission of symptoms and cancer activity
§ supports the body’s
immune system which helps fight cancer and
§ improves the general
quality of life of someone who has had cancer.
MUSCLE MASS
Resistance exercise, dynamic and aerobic training
prior to and during cancer treatment, has been
shown to:
§ aid cancer recovery
by helping to maintain muscle mass and body strength
§ thereby maintaining
higher functional levels during and after the cancer episode.
A Canadian study of bowel cancer sufferers found that:
§ 81% of the
prehabilitated group, who did regular exercise before treatment, recovered their basic walking ability within 12
weeks and were able to walk further distances post-operatively.
§ Only 40% of the
control group, who did not participate in the prehabilitation, achieved the
goal of walking ability by 12 weeks. Distance walked was less.
BONE DENSITY AND
STRENGTH
Prostrate cancer treatment depletes testosterone
supply which reduces bone density and increases risk of osteoporosis. This
increases the risk of bone fractures whether occurring spontaneously or as a
result of a minor impact or fall.
Research in Perth indicated dynamic training,
including jumping exercises, will reduce loss of bone density and risk of developing
brittle bones.
OXYGENATED BLOOD FLOW
Regular exercise increases oxygen-rich blood flow
through the body, reducing the hypoxic state around tumours, where cancer cells
exist in a minimal oxygen microcosm.
Cancers are more aggressive and resistant to treatment where oxygen is lacking. Exercise improves the effectiveness of cancer treatments which rely on oxygen-rich blood vessels travelling to cancer cells.
PREVENTION
Lack of physical
exercise is the 2nd Highest Contributor to Cancer incidence in Australia.
First cause is tobacco smoking.
A 2010 study indicated that a significant number of
bowel, breast and endometrial cancer cases are associated with lack of regular
exercise. Regular exercise reduces
insulin production. Excess Insulin is associated with obesity and cancer.
30
minutes of rigorous exercise or one hour of moderate exercise daily is
recommended to increase the ability to prevent Cancer.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES : Adults aged 18-64 years
Doing any physical activity is better than doing none.
If you do no exercise, start slowly and build up gradually to the recommended
amount.
§ You need to
accumulate 2 ½ - 5 hours of moderate intensity exercise each week or 1 ¼
to 2 ½ hours of vigorous intensity physical activity every week.
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