Cancer & Exercise - The Facts

We know exercise and activity can help prevent cancer, but it is also a really important aspect of cancer treatment and recovery. In the past, doctors have advised their patients to rest and avoid activity, but new guidelines from Macmillan state exercise is perfectly safe for people with cancer and for those having chemo and radiotherapy.

Exercising during and after cancer treatment can help with muscle loss, weight changes, fatigue, nausea, bone-density loss and lymphoedema and can significantly improve quality of life, social interaction, low mood and anxiety.

Illness, bed rest and inactivity all have a significant negative effect on your body. While it might seem logical to rest when you’re sick, it’s not the best treatment and could do you more harm in the long run. Doctors estimate 10 days spent on bed rest is the equivalent of 10 years of muscle loss and ageing. Bed rest needs to be avoided; it will prevent physical decline for long-term recovery.

While some cancers are linked to genetics, many cancers are preventable. Cancer Research UK (cancerresearchuk.org) estimate around 40% of cancers can be prevented by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and avoiding alcohol. However, being active and exercising is your most powerful weapon against cancer. Research has shown that being physically active can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by 20% and bowel cancer by up to 50%. There are no guarantees, but the advice is simple – try to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Always talk to your GP before starting a new fitness regime.

Sarah Russell is an exercise and fitness expert with a Masters degree in Sport Science and a special interest in exercise after injury, surgery or illness. She is a qualified cancer-rehabilitation specialist and works with nurses supporting patients with bowel cancer. Sarah-russell.co.uk