7/28/2019 15174 Exercise for Cancer Patients

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Exercise and Cancer Prevention

Within Australia each year there are an estimated 108,000

new cancer cases and 41,000 registered cancer deaths

each year. While the causes for many cancers remain

unknown, lifestyle factors such as physical activity levels areconsidered contributory and modifiable for some.

The evidence supporting physical activity as a means of

cancer prevention is now considered strong and

convincing for cancers including colon/colorectal and

breast, probable for prostate and possible for others.

Exercise and Cancer Recovery

The treatments needed to fight cancer often come with

complications such as, loss of function, reduced bone mass

and body composition, lymphedema, CVD, T2DM with themost common being fatigue.

The time between diagnosis and treatment is typically

minimal; therefore clinicians are more likely to play a

significant role during and following treatment in the control

of treatment related symptoms.

Staying active during and following treatment can at least

prevent decline and/or improve many of the common

side-effects of the treatment as well as reducehospitalisation, increase chemotherapy compliance rates

and improve stress and anxiety levels.

It is now understood that exercise during this stage, does at

worst not exacerbate fatigue but that failure to engage in

physical activity could lead to increased fatigue. Strategies

that employ rest or gentle exercise to overcome fatigue

fail to stimulate the neuromuscular, endocrine, immune and

skeletal system and evoke symptom reduction and health

enhancement.

Exercise Considerations

Exercise programming will depend on the type, location

and stage of cancer and the treatment type being

undertaken by the patient. Individualised exercise testing is

the key to developing an appropriate routine

Any co-morbidities need to be factored into programming

Consideration needs to be made regarding the patients

progression through cancer treatment stages. During stages

when the patient is immunosuppressed, risk of infection has

to be minimised

Dual goals should be considered to accommodate forboth good and bad times throughout treatment

An Accredited Exercise Physiologist can provide a safe

physical activity routine, based on exercise testing, and up

to date guidelines for your patient no matter their current

fitness levels. At Advanced Physiotherapy and Injury

Prevention our Exercise Physiologist can run individual

sessions or group classes based on patients needs and your

recommendations. Our fully equipped gym and circuit

room are available to patients undergoing treatment with

us.

Abstract: Staying physically active can play a

major role at every stage of cancer treatment,

from initial diagnosis to remission or palliativecare. It can act at both a physiological level, by

reducing the risk of secondary complications

such as fatigue and lymphedema and a

psychological level, by improving mood and

social interaction.

A New Way of Thinking for Quality of Lifein Cancer PatientsHow keeping active can improve well being and reducethe likelihood of recurrence

Matthew Kent

Exercise Physiologist

Providing Individual Consultation and

Group Sessions at Advanced Physio

Advanced Physio & Injury Prevention

Doctors only phone line (02) 4954 7993 General Phone (02) 4954 5330 Fax (02) 4954 6380 advancedphysio.com.au

Hillsborough Centre, Unit 2 Building 2, 335 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay, NSW, 2283

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