Exercising is a major benefit for cancer patients, although during treatment they decrease their physical activity, according to specialists in medical oncology.
Impact of physical activity on cancer treatment
Physical exercise is important for cancer prevention or risk reduction, and there is increasing scientific evidence that physical activity is also beneficial for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Most patients associate the treatment process with a period of rest, but the truth is that physical exercise has been shown not only to help these patients feel better, but also, in some cases, to improve the results of their treatment.
Factors that decrease physical activity in cancer.
The four factors are motivation, discipline, fatigue, and pain. Most patients said they had difficulty being motivated, and just over half cited problems remaining disciplined. Patients also spoke of more familiar barriers to physical activity such as fatigue and pain. Side effects of cancer treatment such as fatigue and pain can be addressed relatively easily, but the other reasons patients don’t exercise can be more complicated, and specialists should focus on those as well.
ASCO clinical practice guidelines recommend encouraging all patients to pursue a moderate level of physical activity after cancer treatment (e.g., 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week). Moderate physical activity includes: walking, gardening, housework, moderate yoga, etc.