Exercise as a part of cancer treatment
There is a lot of research stating that physical activity plays an integral part of cancer treatment; showing the amazing benefits of physical activity for patients with a variety of different cancers and different stages.
Listed benefits of Physical activity and cancer
· Can help manage some of the side effects of treatment
· Speed up your return to normal activities
· Improve treatment outcomes
· Strengthen muscles and bones and improve circulation
· Help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight
· Improve your energy levels
· Improve your mobility and balance
· Improve appearance, self-esteem and quality of life
· Help you cope with stress, anxiety and depression
· Provide new opportunities to meet people and socialise
· Reduce the risk of, or help manage, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis etc1
Where to start
Before you start to exercise you should consult you doctor or specialist to discuss any precautions you should take and if it is safe for you to perform physical activity.
Physical activity can be done in many ways, walking the dog, going for a swim, exercising at home or going to the gym. Physical activity doesn’t need to be costly, boring or inconvenient. The physical activity that you choose to do needs to be tailored to you depending on what you enjoy doing, your current physical activity levels and what is safe for you.
Consulting an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) an allied health professional who is university qualified will help to tailor a program to you. An Exercise Physiologist will perform an initial assessment to determine you health needs, physical history and goals to meet your individual needs and abilities. Using this information an AEP will then tailor a program to you and will demonstrate how to perform this program to you.
Renee Trevarthen Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)
1 Cancer Council. 2019. Cancer Council. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cancer.org.au. [Accessed 8 February 2019].
