About eleven years ago I lost my younger brother to a malignant brain tumor. It will be exactly those many years on March 5th of 2012.
Cancer has touched the lives of many if not all in recent years.
It is with my sympathies to those who have lost loved to Cancer and with the hope that you’ll find the information provided below useful that I submit the following guest post by David Haas.
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Fighting Cancer With Fitness- Reclaiming A Zeal For Life
Most people today know about the numerous health benefits of physical activity. Better heart health, lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and improved self-esteem are just some of the benefits of exercise. Despite these benefits, however, physical fitness is usually the last thing on a cancer patient’s mind.
In fact, a cancer diagnosis often shatters a person’s sense of control over his or her own body. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other cancer treatments cause further devastation. Cancer patients face additional struggles after treatment and during recovery. Physical fatigue, emotional stress, and various psychological barriers can leave them feeling crushed and beaten.
As unlikely as it may seem to someone going through, or coming out of, cancer treatment, physical activity returns the sense of control that the cancer diagnosis and treatment diminished. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise increases the sense of overall well-being and speeds the recovery process, too.
Engaging in a regular exercise routine during and after cancer treatment requires surprisingly little effort. Small steps are the way to go, and a little activity goes a long way. Most cancer patients can incorporate exercise into their days, but they should check with their doctor before beginning a fitness program.
Different cancer patients will benefit from different programs or different activity levels. For example, a breast cancer survivor’s fitness program will differ from that of someone going through mesothelioma treatment. Both patients should be able to do something, pending their doctor’s approval. The key is to start slowly and increase intensity as fitness improves.
According to national guidelines, the American Cancer Society recommends about twenty minutes of exercise a day. Moderate exercise is best, but cancer patients should adhere to their doctor’s instructions regarding fitness. Any physical activity above their usual daily routines will result in numerous health benefits for cancer patients.
Studies suggest that exercise increases the survival rate and reduces the recurrence risks. And the evidence for health benefits to the heart, lungs, muscles, and bones is extensive. For this reason, cancer patients are encouraged to exercise during treatment and recovery. Those who fight cancer with fitness not only reclaim control over their illness, but they often discover a newfound zeal for life.
David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance
Guest Blogger http://about.me/haasblaag
Tags: benefits, Cancer survivors, self help, tips, treatement
