Physical activity help for cancer survivors
IF a powerful therapy that could dramatically cut mortality risks came in pill form, every doctor would prescribe it.
Physical activity is that pill and has been shown to cut the risk of death from cancer and all causes among breast cancer survivors by about 20%, University of Otago Associate Prof Lynnette Jones says.
‘‘This benefit remains regardless of whether the person has been physically active before diagnosis or begins exercise after diagnosis,’’ Prof Jones, of the Otago School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, said.
For the past 11 years, Prof Jones has been directing an EXPINKT exercise training programme, mainly for breast cancer survivors.
The programme acronym combines the ‘‘Ex’’ and ‘‘T’’’of exercise training with ‘‘Pink’’, the international symbol of breast cancer awareness, to convey
‘‘Exercise training beyond breast cancer.’’
Dunedin resident Andrea Samson, who completed the overall programme 10 years ago, has returned to take part in a specialised 20week research programme coordinated by MSc student Sam Baxter and focusing on high intensity interval training for people who are recreationally active.
‘‘It’s been a challenge,’’ Ms Samson said.
When she started, six weeks ago, she could do two press ups in a row but now she could do 10.
The lowerintensity activities she had undertaken in 2010 had enabled her to successfully complete her chemotherapy treatment, and the work of Prof Jones was ‘‘amazing’’, she said.
Prof Jones said about 380 people had done the wider programme over the years, through recommendations from Dunedin Hospital’s oncology department.
Regular exercise reduced the adverse effects of cancer treatments and high intensity interval training had been shown to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer survivors, she said.