Millions of people around the world are affected by cancer.
In the United States alone, an estimated 1.6 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2017 (1). For many of these people, the disease and treatments result in a myriad of burdensome effects that significantly decrease quality of life.
Among these side effects include sleep problems, depression, pain, cancer-related fatigue, cognitive impairment, impaired physical and muscle function, reduced cardiopulmonary function, and decreased bone mineral density (2).
Fortunately, research findings suggest that exercise can help mitigate and manage these undesirable consequences to improve quality of life. Here are just three ways that exercise has been shown to help people with cancer.
1. Reduce Stress and Fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and distressing symptoms of cancer and its treatments.
CRF is a dose-limiting toxicity that can linger for years after treatments are completed in otherwise healthy survivors (3). It is multi-faceted and may have physical, mental, and emotional manifestations. It is also associated with a variety of co-occurring symptoms, such as sleep problems, depression, pain, anxiety (2).
One analysis, published initially in JAMA Oncology but recently released for public access by the US Department of Health and Human Services, evaluated 113 studies involving 11,525 participants in research that evaluated the effectiveness of treatment approaches to CRF. The conclusion based on this data was that clinicians should prescribe exercise as first-line treatments for CRF.
2. Maintain Muscle and Bone Strength
Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and other cancer treatments can accelerate bone loss and bone turnover. Also, inactivity related to cancer treatment can weaken the skeleton and cause muscle loss (1).
These factors combine to increase a person’s risk of falls and potential injury including fractures.
However, many studies have measured the impact of resistance training on bone density and muscle strength. Several randomized controlled studies have demonstrated an improvement in muscle strength and bone density in patients with prostate and breast cancers.
3. Improve Treatment Effects
A growing body of higher-quality literature suggests regular exercise after a cancer diagnosis will increase survivorship, some estimates by 50-60% (4).
According to oncology experts, “Based on this evidence, it is now clear to us that exercise is a critical adjuvant therapy in the management of many cancers and will greatly enhance the therapeutic effects of traditional radiation and pharmaceutical treatments by increasing tolerance, reducing side effects, and lowering risk of chronic diseases, even those not aggravated by cancer treatment.”
While cancer has many unpleasant effects, it’s good to know there is something we can do to help fight back. Contact your physical therapist at Set PT to help develop an exercise, prescription, and management plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
Sources:
2 – Exercise Recommendations for Cancer-Related Fatigue, Cognitive Impairment, Sleep problems, Depression, Pain, Anxiety, and Physical Dysfunction: A Review. Karen M. Mustian, Lisa K. Sprod, Michelle Janelsins, Luke J. Peppone, Supriya Mohile. Oncol Hematol Rev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2013 May 8.
3 – Bower JE. Cancer-related fatigue–mechanisms, risk factors, and treatments. Nature reviews. Clinical oncology. 2014; 11(10):597–609.
4 – Newton, R.U. & Galvão, D.A. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. (2008) 9: 135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-008-0065-1
Resistance Training Reduces Disability in Prostate Cancer Survivors on Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Jan; 96(1): 7–14. Kerri M. Winters-Stone, PhD,a,b Jessica C. Dobek, MS,b Jill A. Bennett, PhD, RN,a,b Nathan F. Dieckmann, PhD,bGianni F. Maddalozzo, PhD,c Christopher W. Ryan, MD,a,d and Tomasz M. Beer, MDa,d
Strength training stops bone loss and builds muscle in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled trial.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011 Jun;127(2):447-56. doi: 10.1007/s10549-011-1444-z. Epub 2011 Mar 19. Winters-Stone KM1, Dobek J, Nail L, Bennett JA, Leo MC, Naik A, Schwartz A.
