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 have been accepted into the Exmed Cancer program - Assoc Prof Prue Cormie, mentioned in the news articles yesterday is behind this program. Victorian based program, something I learnt about on this forum
http://www.exmedcancer.org.au/about
For me to attend it is with my GP approval
The closest to me involves approx. an hour there and hour back again - so it is not easy access either however I need to treat this as I am going to work, I am the project, and it will cost me in travel costs. I am hoping it will help break the fatigue barrier that is still with me or at least have the gap between fatigue bouts widened.
Otherwise locally it is $360 minimum for a pilates course which isn't tailored to my needs - @Zoffiel. I count myself as very lucky being in the city - where I have chemo is literally a short walk round the corner. I feel for people that have to travel so far and relocate temporarily for treatments xoxo
- Structured programs are useless if you live in the sticks and can't afford a private practitioner. So the gulf between cancer in the city and cancer in the country widens. I suppose we are used to it.
- I agree @Sister I lost full condition and muscle mass due to treatment, I had a long recovery back to the land of living, was it because I wasn't fit? No, I was, my body didnt cope with treatment. Radiation aggravated a dormant heart condition I had in 2012 and had an ablation done, best thing ever. But then a recurrence in 2015?? I worked so hard with my Exercise Physiologist in 2016/17 and Im very active now. I feel the best I have been in 3yrs having said that I am back working full time which is very difficult but great!!!. So it has been the best thing doing Exercise, there's no doubt with any of that or how much I did prior to 1st diagnosis...but that is VERY different @Sister to doing it for prevention. We should just be talking of the benefits of Exercise period. Hugs xo
- There's no guarantees are there @melclarity. I'm doing it as much to regain my strength (I've lost a lot of upper body condition) and to protect my heart as I have cardiac problems on both sides of the family.
- Wonderful! and there is already things in place supporting Cancer Patients, wonderful rehab programs and tailored programs with Exercise Physiologists, so this wouldnt be much different. We're lucky to have such things in place. I stand by what I know and majority of people Ive known who have had recurrence who exercised pre first diagnosis, and post and still had recurrence.
ABC News: 'World-first' call for exercise to be prescribed to all Australian cancer patients
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-07/cancer-patients-engaging-in-exercise-show-improvement/9733882
If this goes through it will claimable and a fantastic incentive.
It will hopefully mean that the exercise can taylored to individual needs, and adjusted over time. The data supports exercise independent of prediagnosis fitness levels or weight.- @Sister Onya!
- About to head into my oncology exercise class!
- The minute I clicked on this article it came on the news at the same time. The universe is telling me to keep getting my ass out of bed for that walk!!
