During Breast Cancer Treatment, Exercise Improves QOL

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  • Golden01
    Golden01 Member Posts: 916
    edited April 2012

    I remember a few days after my lumpectomy, the BS had called the night before and given me the "bad margins news".  I was supposed to "take it easy" until I saw him later in the week. I got up, put on my walking shoes, and headed to the park near my house. Walking turned out to be a real stress reducer for me as I made the decisions about more surgery and the treatment to come down the road. It's always nice to have a study to confirm what already seems true for me.

  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited April 2012

    Here is what I think is the best article on this topic:

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

    In fact, I don't believe you make a full recovery from breast cancer treatment witout exercising.  You still get hammered (as I learned), but you are able to withstand the hammering of adjuvant treatment much better. 

    I certainly felt it a few weeks ago when I couldn't cycle because of a crash from getting caught in a hailstorm.  I limped around walking, but not the same.  My body got soft, and so did my brain.

    I cycled weekends all through chemo and radiation.  Made an enormous difference in that I got oxygen throughout my body and would feel normal.  I slept well too.  The weights and crunches I did meant that I didn't lose upper body strength.....or at least minimal.

    So yes, exercising is key. - Claire

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited April 2012

    I believe it helped me through chemo.  I exercised 5 days a week for at least an hour a day.  I was beck to teaching aerobics a few weeks after finishing chemo.  I was not as tired as people say they are and chemo went a lot better than I thought.  I think exercise really made the difference!

  • BelaT
    BelaT Member Posts: 217
    edited April 2012

    I understand but how do I find energy while I am sick and tired and recovering from surgries?

    bela 

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited April 2012

    Many days I did not feel like exercising, but I made myself and I was glad I did.  I had BMX with TE's placed and was walking for 40 minutes a day three weeks later.  I started walking at the mall since it was winter and my PS said I could not go to the gym.  You have to start somewhere....don't set HUGE goals, just get out and walk and slowly build it up.  Can you enlist anyone to go with you?  I know it is hard, but you can do it Bela!

  • 1Athena1
    1Athena1 Member Posts: 6,696
    edited April 2012

    This is the type of study that drives me nuts. Not only is it "DUH!!!!" (we know exercise improves QOL - the Greeks knew that), but also, how bloody presumptuous to think everyone who is in treatment can even get out of bed! While I was on Lupron it took me three hours (because I needed rest naps in between) just to make myself coffee!

    It's almost lacking in empathy. Pisses me off.

    It's like saying: "A positive attitude will put a smile on your face. Smiles are associated with cancer cures (because only people who live long enough get to use their facial musclesthat much)."

    Edited out the exlamation marks.

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