It is thought that one in every two people will develop cancer at some stage in their life. The type of cancer and whether or not it is treatable will range from person to person, but one thing that's certain is the devastating effect such a diagnosis can have on the patient and their family.
Coming to terms with living with cancer is hard enough, but cancer treatment can certainly take its toll on the body in its own way. Many treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy can have several unkind side effects, including fatigue, breathlessness, blurred vision and nausea.
Due to these side effects, it was previously standard for doctors to recommend a blanket ban on exercising and physical activity whilst a patient was undergoing cancer treatment, but we now know that exercising - provided the patient isn't experiencing debilitating side effects - can help ease symptoms.
If you are being treated for cancer, how much exercise you do will depend on the type of treatment the you are undertaking, what the side effects are and whether or not your doctor deems it safe to exercise. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are two of the most common and physically demanding types of treatment, so if you are on either of these courses, exercise may not be possible.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a type of medicine that is administered to a patient (typically through an IV line) either before surgery, after surgery or as the main treatment for blood cancer, lymphoma or leukaemia. Its side effects include hair loss, nausea, higher risk of infection, bruising, anaemia and fatigue. In these instances, exercising may not be possible as it might pose too much of a risk, or its not physically possible for the patient to do it.
Exercising and chemotherapy
If you have anaemia, extreme fatigue or weak bones as a result of cancer treatment, don't exercise. Always consult your doctor first. If they say it's okay to exercise because your symptoms don't pose too much of a risk and aren't too taxing on your body, start slow. You might choose to avoid public gyms in order to preserve your immune system, but wherever you choose to exercise, having a spotter with you is a good idea to ensure you don't hurt yourself.
Doing short circuits of exercise such as lunges, squats, push ups and weights is a good place to start. Alternatively, swimming, cycling and jogging can help. Some people undertaking chemotherapy may experience loss of balance, numbness and tingling that could cause a fall which is why its important to not push yourself too hard and to have someone nearby. If you were active prior to treatment, you might not be able to workout to the same level during or after treatment. Take is slow and listen to your body.
Even just a small amount of exercise can help to ease some of your treatment symptoms such as fatigue because you're building up your muscles which will increase your strength and ability to do everyday activities. It can also reduce anxiety levels which may spike during treatment due to the unpleasant process.
What is immunotherapy?
This type of treatment is commonly used to treat melanoma, but how does immunotherapy work? Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses either vaccines, targeted antibodies, adoptive cell transfers, cytokines and checkpoint inhibitors to encourage the immune system to treat and prevent cancer. It's commonly used for melanoma. As this type of treatment interferes with the immune system, it comes with a whole host of side effects, including fatigue, nausea, mouth sores and flu-like symptoms. For this reason, exercising whilst undertaking immunotherapy isn't always an option.
Exercising and immunotherapy
Like with chemotherapy, if your doctor deems it permissible for you to exercise, doing so can help to ease some of the more unpleasant and debilitating symptoms like fatigue and muscle weakness. With immunotherapy, your immune system will be impacted which means exercising at home with a personal trainer or using online videos might be better than going to a public gym.
Short circuits are great to get your body moving and your muscles used to movement again. If you feel up to it, you may partake in a higher intensity exercise regime, but if you feel out of breath or have a tight chest, you should stop immediately. Exercising whilst undertaking cancer treatment such as immunotherapy can help ease certain side effects, but it may exasperate others, so it's paramount that you find a balance in accordance with the advice from your medical care team.
Summary
Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of exercise can help to reduce your risk of certain cancers, but it's not a definitive preventative cure, and roughly half of the population will find themselves dealing with cancer at some stage. For those who were previously active, being unable to lead the same lifestyle can be hard to deal with, but it's important to listen to medical professionals first and foremost.
We now know it's safe for cancer patients to exercise before, during and after treatment, but it depends on the treatment and the patient. If a doctor deems it safe to exercise, it might reduce treatment symptoms and alleviate some of the pressure from the process, making it well worth doing if possible.