In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the countless women and men who have experienced breast cancer, we salute the survivors, their family, friends, and caretakers who are all affected by this disease in a myriad of ways.
While breast cancer itself can be frightening, the treatment options for the disease are, unfortunately, no walk in the park either. Chemotherapy remains one of the most effective treatments to reduce tumors and lessen the risk of the cancer coming back. This powerful drug works by attacking the body’s fastest growing cells, because cancer cells grow much faster than most.
While the goal of chemo treatments is to attack and kill cancer cells, it does not discriminate between healthy cells and cancer cells. As a result, the healthy cells in the body, especially those that grow quickly like hair, skin and nails, are at risk of harm during the course of chemotherapy. This is the reason for the extreme side effects like nausea, hair loss, dry skin, fatigue, and dental complications.
There is some good news for patients undergoing chemotherapy, though. Researchers have found that people who exercise regularly during their chemotherapy treatments can reduce the impact of some of the major symptoms that come with the treatment, so long as you have the go-ahead from your doctor.
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Regular exercise, even as simple as walking, can help to counter the fatigue that results from chemotherapy treatments. Exercise can also help individuals fight off muscle soreness and boost their immune systems, which, of course, is of utmost importance to fighting cancer.
Another benefit of exercising during chemotherapy treatments is that it can help to limit weight gain that often accompanies chemotherapy due to the steroids that are normally prescribed to help patients through the treatment process. So basically, if someone is facing chemotherapy treatments, exercise is the magic pill that can help them to power through the difficult time during chemo.
While reactions to chemotherapy can vary from person to person, anyone who is undergoing this challenging treatment can alleviate some of the symptoms through exercise. “Exercise” is also going to vary from person to person, in that for some it might mean a light walk for 15 minutes while others may be up for strength training. It all depends on what their body is capable of, as well as their general fitness level before starting chemotherapy.
Before you or a loved one heads to the gym, keep these tips in mind before starting an exercise routine while receiving chemotherapy treatments:
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1. Always consult with your doctor about your specific condition and ability to exercise.
2. If you are suffering from anemia, you may need to avoid exercise until the condition improves.
3. If you are experiencing extreme fatigue to the point where your motor skills are impaired, do not exercise until you regain energy.
4. Chemo can cause harm to the immune system, so be careful about wiping down gym equipment or exercising in crowded spaces. Take extra precautions with cleanliness to prevent viruses or infections.
The most important thing to keep in mind for anyone exercising during chemotherapy, is to pay attention to their body and just do what they are able to do. Again, a doctor should be consulted before starting any exercise regimen, especially as the chemo treatments progress.
Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.
