Exercising during cancer treatment  sounds like a tall order.  And with little wonder.  We all know about the side effects of cancer treatment, and in particular chemotherapy.  It can take more strength than you thought you had to fight through these symptoms.     So why would someone suggest cancer and exercise when patients are already being pushed to their limits?    

Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Any treatment comes with side effects and chemotherapy is particularly devastating with  a vast number and variety of side effects.  Some are obvious like hair loss and muscle loss.  The not so obvious are even more devastating – fatigue, nausea, pain.  This is why treatment is a battle.     And now, in the midst of this battle, I’m saying to you let’s get out and exercise.  “Ya right” you laugh back at me and think there is no way that cancer and exercise should be used in the same sentence.     So how is it that cancer patients are actually deciding to take that step to exercise?  And it’s not just patients and survivors that were ‘former’ runners and athletes.   Cancer and exercise is for almost anyone who has decided to fight the side effects of cancer treatment with a tool called exercise.     I want to review a study with you that highlights the phases of cancer and exercise to support patients through treatment and survival.     But first, if you want a Free Checklist of The Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Patients, just click the link below and get your Free Download. BENEFITS OF EXERCISE FOR CANCER PATIENTS DOWNLOAD  

Cancer and Exercise Research

  Research in Denmark including both breast and cancer patients decided to do something a little differently.  They wanted to find patients diagnosed with cancer who did NOT exercise and had no interest in starting.   These patients indicated that exercise is boring, that they don’t have the discipline to exercise, and stress from work all made it impossible to exercise.   But hold on a minute.  We know lots of people who don’t exercise for these exact reasons so why should this be different for cancer patients?  What’s different is the diagnosis.   And that’s what makes exercise and lifestyle change so important.  But being diagnosed didn’t change anything.  The patients in the study did NOT attempt to start exercise after being diagnosed.  The ‘transformation’ of these exercise haters didn’t start with diagnosis – it took four phases.   Phase 1 The first phase is called the “transformational step”.  This happened when each cancer patient was provided with information and education about the benefits of exercise including how exercise can help to decrease the side effects of chemo treatment.  But it’s not just the information.   It’s that the information and education was provided by someone trusted by the patient – a health care professional and member of the patient’s team.   Patient indicated that this phase

•  Improved their mood
• Made them feel safe with choosing exercise
• Reduced the feeling of being powerless against cancer
• Gave them a positive focus (exercise) instead of thinking of chemo

  Phase 2 This “discovery phase” occurred when patients were able to see AND feel the difference exercise was making.  Their bodies felt better with exercise.  Patients discovered their ability to affect their body and to feel better not only physically but also emotionally.  Cancer patients were beginning their journey of empowerment through exercise.   Phase 3 Once patients were able to see and feel the benefits of exercise during chemo, their mindset about exercise started to change.  Patients started to set personal exercise goals and their exercise beliefs were becoming quite different from when they had their initial interview at the start of the study.   These are some big changes!

  Phase 4 With all these benefits, patients started to reprioritize – the final transformation phase.  Patients started to make the time for exercise, and their behaviours with work, family, and leisure time changed in order to continue with their new ‘exercise habit’.   Considerations A number of patients in this small study needed to take a break immediately after some treatments.  This averaged around 4 days and occurred because the treatment side effects were too severe to exercise.       But what was pretty amazing is that once they started to feel a bit better, patients got right back to exercising and returned to their program.  The cancer patients knew that exercise was providing benefits and wanted to keep plugging away.   I believe the importance of this Four Phase Model is that it sheds light on the need for health care professionals to adapt an early standard for Cancer Exercise Education.   By informing cancer patients about the benefits of exercise – even during treatment and even if they have never exercised before – patients are able to make an educated choice, feeling safe and empowered with professional insight directed right to them.  This gives patients a better opportunity to utilize available tools, adapt their lifestyle, and make healthy choices for their future.   A survey of European cancer survivors found that only 25% of patients were meeting the guideline levels for physical activity.   If these patients were part of an early standard like the one in this study, it is certainly possible that more patients would be exercising today and reaping all the amazing benefits.   Not sure if you should be exercising?  Grab your copy of The Exercise Readiness Workbook, developed just for cancer patients. CLICK HERE FOR FREE WORKBOOK