Exercise & Cancer

Reasons to exercise during and post cancer treatment

Certain treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while highly effective at curing cancer, can also damage healthy cells and this puts an additional strain on the body. So, introducing some gentle exercise into your daily routine can help your body to build strength and resilience which will support your recovery. Even exercising for as little as two weeks before undergoing treatment can make a difference.

There is also evidence that regular exercise following bowel cancer surgery can reduce the risks of the cancer returning. Our physiotherapists are available to help supervise exercise programmes after your treatment.

Ways to increase physical activity

You don’t need to do anything complicated or join an expensive gym, you can simply walk or join a yoga class or go swimming. Or, you may want to just find ways to increase your day-to-day physical activity, for example by walking up and downstairs, getting off the bus a stop earlier, gardening or joining a walking group. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, if you can. As with any exercise, the key is to choose something you enjoy and will be able to stick to.

Benefits of exercise during cancer treatment

Not only will exercising improve your physical strength and fitness, but it will also benefit your mental health. A cancer diagnosis can increase your risk of anxiety and depression, but exercise may provide a welcome distraction, particularly if it gets you outside in the fresh air. Among cancer patients, exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, combat fatigue, improve physical function, prevent or improve lymphodemia which is swelling in the lymph nodes, and improve overall quality of life. Strengthening exercises such as swimming, weights or yoga, will help to build muscle mass, alongside eating a healthy diet.

Of course, there are many other longer-term benefits to exercise aside from supporting your recovery from cancer. Being more physically active can help reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes and heart problems and it can help you to maintain a healthy weight. Being obese is linked to 12 different types of cancer and it also puts a strain on the joints and heart, so losing excess weight will provide lifelong benefits.

Tips for exercising during cancer treatment

These include:

• Choosing an activity that you enjoy and committing to doing it regularly.
• As with your food diary, keeping a note of any physical activity in an exercise journal will help you to recognise how much exercise you are doing and where there might be opportunities to be more active.
• Talking to the team at The Bowel Cancer Clinic can help you to address any concerns you have or factors that might prevent you from exercising.
• Regarding exercise as a part of your cancer treatment can help you to fully commit to it and see it as an essential feature of your day.
• Quitting smoking will make it easier to exercise and can also support your recovery as the risk of complications after treatment will be lower.

We encourage all our patients to consider exercising as part of their cancer treatment and we can refer you to our team of physiotherapists and dieticians who can provide specialist one-to-one support.