Blogs from August, 2022

person stretching
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As discussed in Cancer and Exercise Part 2, every individual’s type of cancer, severity and treatment is different, and each individual has different health status prior to the cancer diagnosis. This may affect the individual’s ability to participate in exercise. Cancer treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, anti-hormonal therapy and targeted therapy or immunotherapy. There are potential impacts from surgery and/or treatments that may also affect the individual’s ability to participate in exercise. These include:

  1. Cardiovascular changes
  2. Worsening bone health – osteopenia or osteoporosis
  3. Weight gain or weight loss
  4. Muscle mass loss
  5. Nausea and/or diarrhea
  6. Impaired immune function and/or anemia
  7. Development of metabolic syndrome
  8. Peripheral neuropathy
  9. Cognitive changes
  10. Altered lung function
  11. Skin redness, irritation or rashes
  12. Fatigue
  13. Lymphedema
  14. Pain

Cancer survivors may benefit from professional physical therapy advice on the initiation and progression of an individualized exercise program.

Reference:
Campbell KL, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: Consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019; 51(11): 2375-2390.