Regardless of what type of cancer you have or where you are in your treatment, exercise and physical activity will go a long way toward making you feel better. According to a CBS News report, exercise can be a boon to cancer patients in their fight against the deadly disease.
Improved Health Outcomes
According to the report, even mild to moderate activity can help a cancer patient, even if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, pancreatic cancer or breast cancer. Simple activities such as a daily walk around the block or working in the garden can help improve your stamina and strength.
Exercise can also improve troublesome symptoms such as fatigue, depression and anxiety for cancer patients. In fact, it has been found that moderate exercise can reduce recurrence of cancer for breast cancer and prostate cancer patients. Additionally, exercise can improve your strength and help you lose weight. Other benefits include a reduction in the risk of developing diabetes and heart problems.
Improved Mood
Another tremendous benefit from physical activity is a general improvement in mood. Depression and anxiety are common side effects of finding out if you have cancer and how to go about fighting the illness. It can be difficult to see a positive future ahead of you if you are feeling extremely overwhelmed and physically sick of your illness. However, if you begin to incorporate exercise within your daily regime, than you may soon begin to feel better.
Physical activity stimulates neurochemicals that not only help you feel better physically, but also feel better emotionally. Also, as you begin to move more, you will begin to feel like you can celebrate milestone achievements in your activity levels. For instance, if you start out only being able to walk to the end of the block, when you are able to walk around the entire block, you may want to call your best friend for some well-deserved kudos.
Improved Quality of Life
With just a little bit of activity, you can begin to feel better both physically and emotionally. For many cancer patients, the largest struggle is seeing a bright future. However, once you begin to feel better overall, your quality of life and outlook on life improves too. With physical activity, it is likely that you will be able to have the energy to do more things and want to interact with others more efficiently. With improved mobility and balance, one can begin to meet with friends and do things you once enjoyed.
Getting a diagnosis of cancer can be a frightening thing. There is no denying that as a fact. However, if you are willing to get up and get moving, you may find that you have more energy to fight the battle against the illness and look toward a brighter and healthier future. Simply feeling better goes a long way toward having the strength and the determination to fight the illness, to fight for your life.
David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger
