Maintaining Your Fitness During and After Cancer Treatment

Easing Into A Fitness Routine to Fight Cancer Treatment Side Effects and Keep Energy Levels Up

It was once thought that while a patient was undergoing cancer treatment they should focus solely on rest and recovery but Dr. Shyamali Singhal, General Surgeon, and Oncologist at El Camino Hospital in the Silicon Valley has found that exercise and fitness play an important role in fighting the side effects of cancer treatment as well as preventing cancer recurrence. Dr. Shyamali Singhal says, “Fatigue is something nearly all cancer patients will face and one of the healthiest ways to fight fatigue is to incorporate a functional fitness pattern into one’s day to day routine.” The main goal is to keep the body and mind’s energy moving and positive, here’s how to get started!

Easing into Exercise With Cancer and After Cancer

It’s important for cancer patients who have never exercised before or haven’t been exercising recently to be gentle and start slowly. Cancer patients should set modest goals for themselves such as maintaining range of motion, fighting bed sores, and enjoying short term boosts of energy. Start out with light exercise, such as brisk walking, stretching or using resistance bands, for short periods of time, such as 10 minutes, and slowly increase the window of exercise time. Over time, as the cancer patient feels comfortable and develops energy, they may begin to add intensity. Consistency is key in any fitness routine with or without cancer so a cancer patient should choose activities that they find enjoyable as well as be willing to try new things such as yoga or tai chi to keep their minds fresh.

Continuing Exercise During Cancer Treatment and After Cancer Treatment

If the cancer patient already has a history of exercising and a routine that they’re comfortable with, they’re encouraged to stick with it as much as possible but they should remember to be gentle and tolerant with themselves and their energy levels. Depending on the type and area of cancer, a cancer patient may have to find alternative exercise routines or lower the intensity from their previous levels. It’s important for cancer patients to leave themselves with the energy needed to heal so they should avoid pushing themselves too hard. Cancer patients should always discuss their fitness goals, concerns and routines with their doctor and personal trainer, keeping them well informed on the feelings and changes that are happening within their bodies.

When to Exercise During and After Cancer

An exercise routine during or after cancer treatment needs to be flexible and forgiving. A cancer patient should keep their goal of fitness in mind throughout the day and as they feel higher levels of energy they should try to utilize it for fitness. Energy levels fluctuate heavily during cancer treatment so cancer patients should build a routine around a time that typically works for their energy levels. If energy levels seem to be random, cancer patients should try to allow themselves the freedom to take advantage of high energy periods, such as adding a briskness to their walk or attempting some weightless squats wherever they may find themselves. Cancer patients should research some calisthenics exercises, which are exercises using just the body weight, and keep them in their arsenal for on the go fitness during cancer treatment.

Create a Functional Fitness Routine

Another key element in any fitness routine with or without cancer is practicing motions and movements that enhance day to day life. If cancer patients find themselves struggling with certain daily movements, they should practice them or strengthen the muscles that they use in those motions. If the cancer patient is having a hard time with stairs or moving from sitting to standing, they should incorporate exercises that work on their quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and abdominals. If a cancer patient finds they’re struggling with carrying groceries, they can fill a grocery bag with some items and practice picking it up and walking around with it. It’s important for a cancer patient to see and feel the benefits in their exercise routine so that they maintain their dedication and consistency.

Vary Your Exercises

For a cancer patient to get the most out of their overall fitness it’s best to incorporate each of the different kinds of exercise such as aerobic or cardio, resistance or strength, and core training. Oncologist Dr. Shyamali Singhal notes that the most vital types of exercise for reducing fatigue is resistance and aerobic training which can be as little as lifting can of soup or walking to weight training and running. Aim to keep things fun. If an exercise routine feels like a choir, cancer patients should try exaggerating their movements from time to time as they go about their days. Dancing is great exercise and moral even if it’s just in the living room alone.

Be Sure to Give Your Body Plenty of Nutrients Rest and Recovery

The main goals of exercise and fitness during cancer treatment is to keep the body performing optimally and the mind stress free. To keep the body performing optimally after exercise it’s important to give the body a clean and balanced diet with the nutrients it needs, especially protein and water. Diet and avoiding toxic foods and chemicals is an incredibly important aspect of the recovery process and feeling good in general. Dr. Shyamali Singhal finds that feeling good makes recovery happen quicker and more enjoyably which is why she recommends the non-toxic self-care products at Hope & Beauty.