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Exercise & Cancer

Exercise can be extremely positive in many ways for patients with cancer, and for patients undergoing cancer treatment for many reasons.

Exercise is a good way of releasing stress, and having cancer is one of the most stressful things that can happen in anybody’s life. Exercise also gets you out in the fresh air, and is a good time for switching off and so there can be huge benefits to mental health.

Exercise is also important for a strong cardiovascular and respiratory system, leading to good heart and lung health, which is important to minimise the complications of surgery. Moderate exercise can also improve diabetic control.

yoga exercise
yoga exercise

Moreover, exercise can be a powerful stimulus to the immune system, especially aerobic exercise which gets heart rate up within safe limits. 20 minutes of aerobic exercise 2 – 3 times a week can boost the immune system, potentially reducing the risk of infection. There is also evidence from clinical trials, that exercise during chemotherapy can reduce the severity of side effects, and some tantalising evidence (from breast cancer and oesophageal cancer studies) that it may improve survival.

There are some conflicting factors here, because patients that are capable of doing more exercise are also the fitter patients, and thus may be more likely to have improved survival.

In my practice, I encourage all my patients to incorporate exercise into their daily routine where possible in order to maximise the effectiveness and minimise the negative quality-of-life effects of cancer treatment. It is important that this is done in conjunction with either a physiotherapist or a qualified personal trainer, so that any exercise program is tailored to the individual and takes into account their individual circumstances.

Remember – Exercise does not have to mean running a marathon. Everything must fit within your capability. Even a brisk walk 2 or 3 times a week can make a huge difference. Swimming exercises all the muscle groups of the body.

If you would like to speak with Dr Andy Gaya about Exercising and Cancer, click here to make an appointment

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My PA is Danielle Thornton.

T: +44 (0)20 7034 6160
E: gayapas@thelondonclinic.co.uk
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