Right now more than 15 million Americans are cancer survivors. Ten years from now that number is expected to reach 20 million.
Life after cancer can be difficult. Many cancer survivors will tell you the worst part is worrying whether it will come back. That's problematic, because doctors tell us worry is stress, and stress kills.
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. That's not its only benefit. In fact, new research reveals exercise improves overall quality of life for those who are currently going through cancer treatment as well as people who are finished with it. Exercise also improves athletic ability and overall mobility. The research examines the results of both cardiovascular exercise as well as resistance training, such as weight lifting.
Currently, the guidelines regarding exercise post-cancer treatment are minimal and vague, simply suggesting a person should try to be active. However, this new research examining the benefits of exercise both during and after cancer treatment, could motivate health experts to change those guidelines.
Brian Focht directs the exercise and behavioral medicine lab at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. He authored a study of prostate cancer patients and breast cancer patients.
Focht said, "Overall, resistance exercise, aerobic exercise -- and even a combination of aerobic and resistance -- resulted in improvement in fitness and quality of life and physical function," according to Newsmax.
The prostate study looked at 32 patients, with an average age 65. The men were all undergoing hormone therapy (androgen-deprivation therapy) for their cancer.
Half of the men recieved the usual instructions for care. The other half were told to take part in an exercise program that raised their heart rate and also involed lifting weights. Additionally, the group that was assigned an exercise routine was also instructed to cut back on foods that come from animals and focus instead on eating things that grow.
After three months, researchers compared the fitness levels of the two groups. The group that exercised at a pace that was four times faster than the control group. Also, the group that exercised lost four pounds on average, compared to the control group that gained one pound on average. What's more, the group that exercised reported a higher overall quality of life and an better ability to move around and get things done in their daily lives.
Furthermore, Focht's team scrutinized several studies of breast cancer patients. They compared data from 17 studies that were previously conducted. All of them evaluated the effects of exercise programs on women who were going through chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
After a period of three to six months, the women who exercised had stronger hearts and improved muscle tone. Like the men, the female cancer patients who exercised reported an improved quality of life.
It's unclear how hard the breast cancer participants exercised: whether it tended to be a leisurely walk in the park or a more intense workout at the gym. Therefore, although researchers can perhaps say exercise improves a cancer patient's recovery, they can not recommend any particular type of exercise. We can't accurately draw any conclusions about whether intensity matters," Focht said.
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