As a cancer exercise specialist I continuously have the pleasure
of facilitating people to launch retaliatory attacks on cancer with
exercise. Addressing, fixing our biochemical terrain, and so much
more...
The right exercise, in the right amount, can help regulate all of these biochemical saboteurs.
Glycemia:
Let us all count the ways... but really our muscle mass is the real
hero here... taking sugar out of the blood stream into the muscle...
just as strength training is a diabetics best friend. Sugar feeds
cancer. Exercise reduces Insulin resistance, lowering levels of blood
insulin, a growth factor, discussed further below.
Inflammation:
Again our muscle mass is key here to control the inflammatory chemicals
secreted by cancer cells. A sedentary lifestyle allows protein loss
from body tissues. Inflammatory responses are like wildfire without
exercising the muscles, leading to muscle wasting and destruction of the
immune system. Cachexia is an unfortunate side effect of many cancer
treatments, exercise is the best retaliatory defence.
Oxidative stress:
Now here we do have to be very careful of balance, slow and steady wins
this race. The right type and dosage of exercise produces enzymes that
reduces free radicals. However, too much exercise can produce free
radicals.
Besides the regulation of these terrain setters, exercise also provides many other profound aspects of cancer recovery:
Surgery
and radiation: tightness, muscular imbalances, postural implications,
scar tissue... just a few of the expected inevitabilities, especially if
amputation was necessary. The proper combination of strength and
stretching can restore the body and in many cases surpass pre surgery
levels of strength, flexibility, range of motion and cardio respiratory
status
Exercise during treatment: Studies agree as harrowing as
treatment can be, exercise can increase stamina, strength, self esteem,
and control pain, which are all often debilitating during treatment.
Maintaining
a healthy body fat level is front and center for cancer recovery.
Depending on the cancer an increase in adiposity (breast, prostate,
colon) can dangerously threaten recovery. Consistent physical activity
and exercise is critical here.
Blood Coagulation: yet another
serious threat to cancer recovery and immune function. Being sedentary
cripples the clotting system. Exercise increases blood circulation and
makes the blood more fluid. Our power pump muscles (various leg muscles)
force blood to travel back to the heart. This is why the advice of "bed
rest" is really an enemy of illness. Improved circulation delivers more
oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and reduces the chance of embolisms.
Exercise
can also boast enabling greater NK cell activity - Natural Killer cells
from our immune system. Exercise also increases macrophages, anti
cancer compounds from immune cells.
An effective exercise program
will also allow the cancer patient proper sleep, another crucial
component to recovery. Just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise can
drastically reduce treatment fatigue and improve quality of sleep
dramatically.
Exercise improves absorption of nutrients which is often compromised in cancer treatments.
And
to me personally, the coolest part of exercise and cancer... the
appropriate form of exercise before chemotherapy treatments can
dramatically increase the effectiveness of treatment, by actually
altering the permeability of cell membranes.
Exercise provides
hormonal balance, controlling stress responses and Growth factors
including estrogen, insulin which promote breast, ovarian, endometrial
lung, prostate cancers and other solid tumor cancers.
Diarrhea is a
common side effect of radiation. Aerobic exercise can reduce this
potentially deadly side effect by 25%.. If constipation is the issue,
the right exercise can decrease bowel transit time.
Lymphedema is
the swelling that occurs when lymph fluid builds up in the soft tissues
of the limbs. This is a very painful possible complication of cancer
surgeries, especially breast cancer. Careful exercise is a precise
science & art in both the prevention and relief of lymphedema.
Exercise programs
must be individualized to each particular patient. Depending on the
type of cancer, and the biochemical and metabolic status of the patient,
exercise protocol will vary. Are we most concerned with cachexia,
excess adiposity, motivating the person, cardiac fitness, depression,
anxiety, minimizing side effects of treatment... all of these plus many
more factors will impact how we individualize the fitness program.
Shira Litwack, Medical Fitness Professional... proud creator of
thousands of health enthusiasts & corporate health cultures world
wide...
In Person & Telephone/Skype Health Coaching, Lifestyle & Weight Management Health Coach, Fitness & Nutrition for chronic illness recovery & self empowerment, addiction recovery, weight loss surgery coach
In Person & Telephone/Skype Health Coaching, Lifestyle & Weight Management Health Coach, Fitness & Nutrition for chronic illness recovery & self empowerment, addiction recovery, weight loss surgery coach