Has your doctor talked to you about the benefits of exercise for cancer patients? A study indicates that few doctors talk about this issue with their patients. However, several investigations have shown how healthy physical activity can be to fight the disease. Discover more details on this topic and get moving, to prevent or fight cancer in this way.
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| Exercise is good to fight cancer |
In all the literature distributed in cancer centers, exercise is one of the most important palliative methods to overcome the disease and cope with treatment. However, one study has shown that, in truth, few doctors discuss this with their patients.
Similarly, although cancer patients have heard about the benefits of physical exercise for their treatments and their general state of health, many do not give importance to the issue and avoid talking to their oncologists about it.
Researchers from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Mayo Clinic analyzed how much patients know about exercise, how they feel about it and what obstacles prevent them from following a routine of physical activity, even knowing its benefits. In this way, they detected that cancer patients took exercise advice more seriously when recommended by an oncologist. However, none of those who participated in the study said they had discussed this issue with their doctor.
According to this study, which was recently published in the Journal of Pain and Symptoms Management, researchers also found:
- that those who exercised on a regular basis before learning that they had cancer tended to remain active after treatment.
- that many patients did not know that they had to make a minimum physical effort per day, and considered that doing activities such as gardening every day was enough.
- that most did not know that inactivity can contribute to the weakening of the body and greater vulnerability to problems, including cancer symptoms.
And you, do you identify with any of these cases? If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are being treated, remember that exercising during this stage may even help you get through the discomforts that the same treatment generates and even lift your mood.
Of course, depending on the type of cancer you suffer and/or how advanced your disease is or the stage of treatment you are in, you may not be able to do any type of exercise or, at least, it is necessary that you take into account certain care to avoid getting hurt.
For example, avoid strenuous exercise if you are at risk of infection, anemia or bleeding; Do not exercise if your blood mineral level is low (such as sodium, potassium, etc.). This could happen if you vomit a lot or have diarrhea and you will need a blood test to find out (your doctor will ask for it). You should also monitor your exercise program so that it is safe, in case cancer treatment affects your lungs, so as not to make the condition worse.
In addition, one thing is that you do not let yourself be overcome by the fatigue that often causes the same treatment and another very different is to be really exhausted. You yourself must realize your limits and if you notice that exercise is making you feel worse or causes you pain, then rest and change your routine.
Before beginning any type of exercise, remember to consult with the specialist or one who is attending to you, so that I can tell you what is most convenient in your case, if you should avoid some type of movement or effort and which ones can help you feel best. So yes, go ahead and stay active and keep enjoying the good times, despite cancer. It is, does not hesitate, a great victory in the battle against the disease.
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