If you think a cancer diagnosis automatically means you’ll need to get plenty of bed rest and avoid activity, think again. A host of medical studies show that exercise can not only reduce the chances of developing cancer, it’s also safe during and after cancer treatment, helping improve quality of life, increase energy levels, and decrease the fatigue that many patients report.
Here are some tips for starting your own fitness routine, even if you’re facing the challenge of cancer.
1. Start smart. Cancer patients and survivors alike should check with their doctor before beginning a fitness routine. While exercise offers a wealth of beneficial effects, certain medications or treatments may affect the amount of physical activity your physician recommends.
2. Aim for experience. Once your doctor says you’re good to go, work with a fitness expert who has experience helping cancer patients and survivors develop a workout routine. In 2009, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine developed a special cancer-exercise certification for fitness professionals, so consider finding a trainer who holds such accreditation.
3. Know where to go. If you’re an adult cancer survivor, you may want to try the YMCA, which has teamed with the Livestrong organization to offer a 12-week exercise program for survivors in select communities nationwide. In the Boston area, cancer patients and survivors can turn to Dana-Farber for a no-cost exercise consultation for men and women, as well as weekly fitness classes for female patients.
4. Do what feels right. Tailor your routine to fit your specific cancer diagnosis and alter it depending on your interests – and on how you might feel when undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. Gradually build your workout over time, and think about what types of exercise you most enjoy. For example, some people prefer to pursue a fitness routine on their own, while others may want the camaraderie of a group workout with other cancer patients and survivors.
5. Keep it up. Exercise can be immensely helpful after treatment, thanks to its ability to strengthen bones, reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, and help maintain a healthy weight. In fact, a new study in the British Medical Journal reveals that breast cancer patients who exercised regularly after treatment had a lower body mass index, improved weight and blood sugar control, and better lower limb strength, compared to those who didn’t exercise. The exercise participants also reported less depression and fatigue, and an improved quality of life.
The bottom line: Although the idea of pursuing an exercise routine during cancer treatment may sound daunting, it’s worth your time. Getting started doesn’t take much effort, and the benefits can be significant.
Nancy Campbell, MS, is an exercise physiologist who offers fitness consults and classes to cancer patients and survivors through Dana-Farber’s Adult Survivorship Program.
I recently went through radiation and hormone treatment at DFCI for recurrent prostate cancer. I traveled from Southern California to Boston for this treatment. I found DFCI absolutely superb! It was inspiring to see a world class medical institution operating at full throttle.
One of the superb things was Nancy Campbell. I have been exercising daily since 1972, running at least 5 miles, and lifting weights. Nancy, though, showed me various new techniques, as well as better ways of doing what I had been doing. We concentrated specifically on managing against the possible loss in muscle mass than can occur as a result of the hormone therapy. With Nancy’s help, I am stronger, more energetic, and more fit than ever before. I feel completely great! Thank you, Nancy Campbell. And thank you DFCI!
I had the good fortune to meet Nancy Campbell at a lecture sponsored by the Women’s Lung Cancer Forum a couple of years ago. I was so impressed by what she had to say, I requested a consultation with her. Prior to lung cancer surgery, I had never formally exercised in my life. In my first meeting with her, Nancy gave me the tools and inspiration to embark on an individual, self-designed exercise program to fit my specific needs and physical limitations. Since then my exercise routine has become part of my everyday life. Most notably, my lung function has improved dramatically, my energy level has increased, and I feel better in general.
I believe Nancy’s article succinctly addresses the questions a cancer patient may have in evaluating the worth of an individual/group exercise program and offers suggestions for reaping the myriad benefits of an exercise regimen, whatever form it takes.
I was thrilled when Nancy reached out to me to share this great article. I was fortunate to participate in several of Nancy’s classes over at Fitcorp during parts of my treatment at DFCI.
When I was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoma in July 2006 at age 23, exercise played an essential role in my life. When it came time for treatment in January 2010 at age 26, I knew staying active would keep me both physically and mentally in check.
Since cancer and treatment forced me to leave my job as a nurse, I embraced the opportunity to focus on keeping physically active and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. I jumped on the opportunity to learn golf, participate in a learn to row program with fellow cancer survivors, join Nancy’s group fitness class at Fitcorp, take yoga, run in some of my favorite scenic locations, bike ride outdoors, and cycle indoors on my spin bike.
My workout routine varied throughout the course of treatment, which included two types of chemotherapy, one month of daily radiation, and allogenic stem cell transplant. Listening to my body was key. I definitely tested my limits once or twice, probably made myself stronger, but remembered to check in with my body more the next time around.
By staying active daily, I found I had more energy, maintained a positive outlook on life, always had a great appetite, and overall felt strong and ready to tackle the next treatment phase. I may have been the only patient who personally requested a bicycle for my transplant stay – no shame in that!
Thoughts I live by: Be active, Be well!
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to meet Nancy Campbell and get involved in the Metastatic Breast Cancer program. As we get older and especially folks with cancer we all understand how beneficial exercise is. It was great to work with someone so educated about the process. Once I was diagnosed with Metastic Breast Cancer I really had no idea about how much and what type of exercise I should and should not be doing. I really want to thank the entire staff for helping me with the exercise program and moving forward with my life, I am confident that this program helped to extend my life. I would strongly encourage anyone to join this program if you have the opportunity; even if you don’t think it will be a benefit you will feel immediate results.
This is a great group of people to have on your team.
Chalk another one up for Nancy and the team at DFCI. For those of us who are in the “club”, experience, comprehension, coaching and compassion are defining characteristics of what to look for. The benefits of exercise and the program that Nancy tailors for you can not be underestimated. It is real. You feel better. You recover quicker. Not only in body, but in mind and spirit as well.
I can’t express enough my appreciation for Nancy as I enter the rest of my life. Roger….upgraded to version 2.0!
I have been participating in Exercise for Patients with Cancer since it was written about in Side by Side, a newsletter by and for patients and families. I am so happy to have found out about this FREE and convenient program. It is gentle, led at a very doable pace and you always FEEL BETTER afterward. The variety of exercises, the gentle guidance offered by Nancy and all instructors, the types of music and a fitting ending with yoga is so appreciated. Thank you all so very much for offering this program! It is so appreciated.
Exercise has been a saving grace in a challenging experience. One year ago I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that has spread to my bone – not a diagnosis anyone really wants. Dana-Farber has been wonderful in my treatment and I am doing very well. At the beginning I asked for advice on physical activity. I went to a physical therapist at Brigham and Women’s who really helped me understand what I could and could not do in terms of activity. I cannot play tackle football or bungie jump – I think I can live with that. There are motions that I need to be careful with to preserve the health of my vertebrae. My initial exercises were lovingly called “small whale twitching” exercises by my teenage children. But I did them. Gradually I felt stronger as I continued with my treatment and my exercise. Then I met Nancy and we further developed my program to include aerobic activities and even lifting weights. My progress has been slow but because of treatment I am now able to do more. I am even jogging. I have lost the extra weight that I have carried and my blood pressure has dropped so that I no longer have to take medication. I am healthier than I was a year ago.
When I was diagnosed, I told my oncologist that I was in charge of the 98% of me that is healthy and I need his help on the small percentage of me that has cancer. Exercise allowed me to focus on the healthy part of me while assisting my body’s fight against cancer. I have said that I am making my own odds of survival. Truthfully, I do not have total control of this but exercise helps me make those wonderful odds I envision. In my most difficult moments in this last year, the times I was exercising were the only times I felt healthy. I would have an hour a day that I felt good about myself. Even if I was not doing something really impressive, my body felt good. Cancer made me feel so bad physically but exercise countered this because at least I was doing something and this gave me a healthy self-image. I have a health problem but it does not define even my overall health. Exercise gives me this viewpoint.
Dana-Farber has been wonderful. Nancy is delightful, charming, and very helpful. She gave me direction and continues to work with me to develop an independent plan because I do not live near Boston. I am so thankful.
Remember you are not alone and life has great joy!
I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in early May and I had what I assume is the normal “this can’t be happening to me” and my initial emotions involved shock and fear. I was given a comprehensive guide to breast cancer at my local hospital. It helped me to become much more knowledgeable than I ever wanted to be about breast cancer and to understand the various treatment options as well as questions to ask my doctors.
Early on with the encouragement from my extended family and friends
OOPS -to continue – early on I made the decision to seek treatment at DFCI. One on the best decisions I ever made. At my first visit I was made aware of a clinical study regarding the benefits of pre-exercise in breast cancer patients. For several reasons I did not qualify for the study, but luckily I was put in contact with Nancy Campbell who met with me before my surgery.
The reading I had done to understand my breast cancer made me feel more in control and gave me hope in the future with one exception. Almost everything I read about lymphedema led me to believe that I would forever be severely limited in what I could do with my right arm and fear that any exercise, bug bite or scratch would cause me to immediately incur this terrible fate.
When I met with Nancy she helped me to understand the benefits of exercise both pre and post surgery as well as its benefits in helping to prevent lymphedema. I had begun an exercise program in the year before my diagnosis. She reviewed my then current exercise program and make suggestions for additional exercises prior to surgery. She also invited me to join the exercise class and I was able to attend a few times before my surgery in late June. This was a wonderfully enabling experience that I have been looking forward to rejoining.
I recovered easily from my surgery. I believe the skill of my surgeons was the primary factor in this, but I also believe that the exercise leading up to surgery was also very beneficial. Post operative exercise has been limited to some stretching and walking, but now that my physician has told me that I can begin exercising again, I can’t wait to get back to Nancy’s class! THANK YOU
How lucky I am! I first met Nancy Campbell at a forum for Young Women with Breast Cancer in 2010. As a speaker at the forum, Nancy discussed the importance of exercise for cancer recovery and as a vital tool to help prevent it from recurring. She also discussed an exercise study for breast cancer survivors and was looking for participants. Knowing inherently that exercise IS important, I asked to take part in this study. It was literally life-changing! While I was an active dragon-boat paddler in the summer months, the rest of the year I exercised spottily at best.
That has now completely changed. Thanks to the study’s coach, Nancy’s encouragement and support, and a Livestrong program for cancer survivors at the West Roxbury YMCA, I now exercise year-round in some way. That includes walking, strength training and exercises for flexibility. As a result, I feel so much better. My health has improved, I have lost weight, I sleep better, I am stronger (emotionally and physically) and I have much more energy. And when I fall behind because of life’s “to-do’s, I can hear Nancy gently whispering in my ear, “Keep it up. This is so important for the rest of your life!”
I am grateful to Nancy, to Dana-Farber and the West Roxbury YMCA for offering their tailored fitness programs for cancer survivors. Their continued encouragement and caring support help to keep me on the right track! I want to do everything I can to keep my cancer from coming back!
There are numerous amounts of physical fitness exercises that you can do to improve your fitness level. Depending on what you want to accomplish, they can range from doing simple exercises that you may already be doing and require no special equipment to joining a fitness center and using more specialized equipment.