Research News: Cancer Survivors Do Better With Exercise

I read this article with interest, and I think it supports the body of knowledge out there.  I think that we do have enough evidence at his point to recommend exercise to patients post and DURING active treatment.

The best article I have read on the topic of exercise is the one publiched by Macmillan Cancer Support in August 2011.  Here is the link.

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/AboutUs/Commissioners/Physicalactivityevidencereview.pdf

Two quotes are of interest to me.  The first talks about the impact of exercise on overall mortality for breast cancer patients.

"A systematic review of six studies indicated a breast cancer specific reduced mortality risk of 34% related to leisure-time physical activity. A subsequent review supported these findings.  Results of the two largest studies suggested that women reaching the equivalent of the recommended minimum levels of physical activity (i.e. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week) had over 40% lower risk breast cancer-specific mortality, and breast cancer recurrence, compared with women active for less than one hour a week."

On exercising during treatment:

"During cancer treatment - physical activity improves, or prevents the decline of physical function
without increasing fatigue."

I wish all this information had been available a little over two years when i was starting out with chemo.  Fortunately, my medical team supported my decision to exercise.  I think I had a much easier trip through chemo because I exercised throughout. 

Two years later, I am fit and healthy and on top of my game.  Again, I credit exercise for helping me get there.  Fortunately, I love to cycle and ski.  I don't love weights/crunches, but they take a minimal amount of time and are extremely effective.  I do most errands by walking.

So major, major benefits beyond the survival benefit.  Being buff is fun and you have tons of positive energy.

Thanks again for posting, and for making this point. - Claire