Cancer

Exercise can form a vital part of management or recovery following cancer diagnosis.

Here are 5 reasons why exercise and physical activity is important in cancer rehabilitation, thanks to @AmyDennett1, originally published on the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Blog.

 

5 reasons why exercise is important in cancer recovery

  1. Exercise after cancer is associated with a reduction in cancer related death by up to 50%.
  2. Exercise may also reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by up to 35%.
  3. Exercise is the number one treatment for the most common and debilitating side effects of cancer – cancer related fatigue.
  4. Exercise is also helpful in remedying numerous other treatment side effects including reducing depression, preventing lymphedema and improving fitness and strength.
  5. There is also emerging data that exercise during toxic cancer treatments can improve the effectiveness and completion rates of chemotherapy.

Amy Dennett, Physiotherapist and La Trobe PhD candidate, discusses exercise rehabilitation for cancer survivors with A/Prof Mark Elkins on the @apaphysio podcast

Patient education

Read Amy’s great systematic review on the topic here