Forum Discussion
Exercise and breast cancer
There’s been quite a bit of discussion online the last few weeks regarding the benefits of exercise and whether what we are reading on Google is to be believed. We therefore thought it might be helpful to make a comment on this.
There is a growing body of evidence around the benefits of exercise for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Regular exercise before, during and after breast cancer has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing and improve quality of life. Exercise can help manage treatment and cancer related side effects such as fatigue, pain, lymphoedema and lowered bone density. It can also improve mood, sleep, body weight, muscle strength, confidence, depression and anxiety. There is very strong evidence that specifically tailored targeted exercise can also reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back (recurrence). The convincing body of research and evidence on the benefits of exercise for people with breast cancer has led to the development of exercise guidelines for people with cancer by major organisations internationally. These guidelines, which largely mirror guidelines for the general population, can be found in BCNA’s Exercise and breast cancer booklet.
For more information on exercise and breast cancer
see:
The Beacon Issue 82 ‘Growing evidence shows the power of exercise’
Here are some relevant research articles:
The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Mortality, Recurrence, and Treatment-Related Adverse Effects
Physical Activity and Weight Loss Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer
47 Replies
- I love the solitude of walking out in the streets; I did it for years. The gym and I don't get on. I can do it and I can feel the benefit but I see it as a noisy sweaty environment.
- Hi for the past 5 weeks I have seen a exercise physiologist, and doing two group exercise class twice a week I just had my first assessment in all areas I have made improvements
and have seen a deitican and lost 4.5 Kilos in 5 weeks.
Both professionals specialise in treating cancer patients
I am feeling motivated but it is going to be a hard road to travel. - @iserbrown I walk daily for an hour.Exercise and silence are not favourites of mine. So I bought a runners armband ($5on eBay) , got the kids to put e audio books and music on my phone .I happily hit the pavement using it as thinking time and barely notice I am exercising. I bought the armband as I tripped one day with my phone in my hand damaging the screen and me a bit.
- The programme is good and tailored. It's me personally that hates the gym. Always have and always will but I am smart enough to know it's doing me good but I'm still counting down 23 sessions to go!
- I did my third exercise physiology class this morning @iserbrown. I worked up a sweat, got very hot and am now thoroughly exhausted! It is an hour's worth of exercises and boy does it work me out! Run by Eastern Health in Melbourne. I can thoroughly recommend it. I'm enjoying it.
- I am now into week 5 of the Ex-med cancer programme!
I am suffering fatigue but at least I can partially say the tiredness/fatigue is because of exercising, lol! Each week they up the ante and I hate the gym so I am counting down the sessions. It has awakened muscles I forgot I had and the journey to and from for each session adds to the incidental exercise.
I do enjoy the company of others and if one of the group is next to me on the Treadmill the time flies as we natter away! We all have our aches and pains and the common theme is we didn't expect all these hidden extras (side effects) from it all! - I saw the Enhance brochure in the Oncs waiting room at the Epworth yesterday.
- @iserbrown I think you'll thoroughly enjoy it, it sounds very much like the Enhance Program that the Epworth runs. I did that in 2016 as part of my rehabilitation it was great and then onto an Exercise Physiologist post that. All of this should be available to everyone with no cost.
Unfortunately, some do carry costs and then there are people that are so remote in rural areas that just don't have anything readily available, so there are still flaws with it. Hopefully things can change in the future. I went back to work 6 weeks post chemo 3 days a week and for 18 months dedicated 1 day a week to the program at rehab and then the Exercise Physiologist. I've always recommended anyone especially Cancer patients of any kind to see one as they are trained in this area. Knowing what I know now, there is NO way I would have been able to have effectively exercised myself to recovery. Majority of mine was stretching with a build up in cardio gradually. Exercise is great and it will give you a new sense of achievement...post all the trauma and on the road to recovery. I only do it because it makes me feel good, nothing more...unfortunately as we have already walked our paths, so we will walk our new one with no control..so being happy in what we do is everything. x - @tigerbeth I consider myself very fortunate that I can dedicate the rest of the year to recovery.
- Yes that's what I would choose too , not sure it would be doable with work & dads appts !!
