Breast Cancer and Exercise
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Breast cancer and exercise? One can exhaust you just as much as the other! But... with the basic fact that disease does not easily thrive in an oxygenated environment - there's no better way to create your own oxygen bar than to breath deep and often... by exercising. Talk to your doctor of course, or find out what our 6.6 pound desk reference says! The short of the long of it all is - remain active or get active... don't let your body shut down!
Breast Cancer and Exercise - Do they mix?Yes. There are days and perhaps times when they don't. Your response to exercise can different from day to day and as individual as you are!
The exercise response in cancer patients will be determined by two things:
With most diseases come limitations, disease or treatment specific. Breast cancer and exercise is no exception.
Generally cancer's effect on the exercise is determined by the tissues involved and the extent of the involvement such as:
Breast cancer and exercise programs can be very beneficial for cancer patients providing it is tailored to each one's specific needs.
Objectives will change individually. Keep in mind the current treatment, how debilitated the patient may be, if they have gone through this before etc.
Home Health Physical Therapy Goals may include:
If you've been through cancer treatment or been around those with cancer, it can seem impossible that aerobic and resistance exercise is even attainable let alone carry any benefits but the benefits of combining breast cancer and exercise far outweight the risks!
Before you shake you head and walk away, look at all these benefits of exercise!
Use exercise to prevent or combat early symptoms of cancer and get ahead of your treatment, however, consult your physician if you have concerns.
Exercise includes several different categories depending on the goals of the person pursuing its benefits.
The intensity, frequency and duration of exercise determined by your physical therapist.
These guidelines can be found in the following valuable resource:
ACSM's Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities-3rd Edition
These categories and associated goals include:
Treatment |
Acute Effects | Chronic Effects |
Surgery |
Pain Fatigue Limited ROM |
Pain Loss of flexibility Nerve damage |
Radiation |
Pain Fatigue Skin irritation Pulmonary Inflammation |
Loss of flexibility Cardiac and/or lung scarring Fractures |
Chemotherapy |
Fatigue Nausea Anemia Nerve damage Muscle pain Weight gain |
Cardiomyopathy Lung scarring Nerve damage Fatigue Bone loss Leukemia |
Immunotherapy |
Weight gain or loss Fatigue Flu-like syndrome Nerve damage |
Nerve damage Myopathy |
Observation of this table shows that the effects of breast cancer and exercise treatment can be permanent and a battle to fight above and beyond the cancer itself. The beauty of the permanent fight is that it becomes second nature as you make dramatic lifestyle changes, and those lifestyle changes are healthy ones!
Remember that older patients may have co-morbid conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, to name a few. These conditions may dictate the effect of exercise more so than the actual cancer itself. These fragile patients will need to start slow when mixing breast cancer and exercise. Consult your physician or physical therapist about combining breast cancer and exercise.
Some cancer treatments may increase the risk for heart disease and death from heart attack. This is important to keep in mind as you discuss how exercise can benefit your situation.
As you continue (or prevent) your cancer treatment journey , it's not too late to change things now for improved quality of life, better health and prevention of other complications.
Often diseases can send us on a chair-cation. Spending any time in your wheelchair can further deteriorate your health. I've written an extensive resource - Wheelchair Freedom! Get Help. Get Up. Get Out! that puts those in wheelchairs on and educated role to getting back on their feet with illustrated pictures, including how to get in and out of the car from a manual wheelchair and other life easy tips for your wheelchair world!
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