There are many benefits to physical exercise for cancer patients and cancer survivors
Benefits During treatment:
- Decrease treatment-related side effects (after surgery, chemotherapy & radiotherapy)
- Pre and post-surgical rehabilitation
- Helps prevent weight gain during & post treatment
- Maintain bone (mineral density), muscles &joint strength
- Improve mobility & overall functional independence
- Prevent deconditioning & muscle wasting
- Naturally strengthens immune system/function
- Decreases length of stay in hospital & complications
- Improves lung function & decreases cardiac (heart) toxicity
- Decreases incidence of nausea, improves appetite & bowel function
- Improves quality of life
- Facilitates functional autonomy
Psychological benefits:
- Helps increase self-esteem, confidence, self-image and sense of personal worth
- Healthy coping mechanism
- Decreases depression, tension, stress and anxiety levels
Benefits of Exercise for survivorship and recurrence:
- Reduces the risk of cancer recurrence & mortality
- Improves body image
- Helps with the physical capacity to return back to work
Benefits in Advanced disease:
- Symptom management & pain relief
- Maintaining function/ independence
- Preserves end of life dignity and autonomy