癌症——运动可以帮助您

jacky

Summary

A person with cancer can benefit from exercise. Regular, moderate exercise can help a person cope with the disease and the side effects of treatment, including fatigue. Get your doctor's advice and approval before you start on any physical activity program.

Cancer and cancer treatments can make a person feel too tired to exercise.
In the past, people being treated for a chronic illness were often told by their doctor to rest and reduce their physical activity. This may still be true if movement causes severe pain, rapid heart rate, or shortness of breath. Newer research has shown that exercise is not only safe and possible during cancer treatment, but it can improve physical functioning and quality of life. It can help to combat fatigue, depression and muscle weakening.

If you are thinking you would like to include some physical activity, discuss with your doctor. Do not exercise without your doctor’s knowledge and support because inappropriate exercise may be harmful.

Causes of fatigue
Cancer and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can cause persistent fatigue (tiredness). Some of the reasons include:

• All types of cancer interfere with the body’s normal functioning. For example, cancer may disrupt the hormone balance.
• Cancers that involve the bone marrow can impair the body’s ability to make red blood cells. This results in anaemia, which is a known cause of fatigue.
• Some treatments may destroy non-cancerous cells such as red blood cells.
  

The benefits of exercise
Exercising can help people cope with cancer treatment. Your family may want you to rest all the time, but this may not be the best thing for you. Exercise if you are able to, and if your doctor says it is safe. Exercise helps in several ways:

• Increase strength, flexibility and heart and lung function.
• It can increase your energy and reduce fatigue.
• For some people on chemotherapy, exercise can reduce nausea and vomiting.
• Increase appetite
• Encourage deeper and more refreshing sleep
• Reduce pain – exercise stimulates the brain to release endorphins, which are opiate-like pain-killing chemicals
• It can help you to feel in charge of your life.
• It can help digestion and reduce constipation.
• It can improve your mood.
  

The cancer-fighting benefits of exercise
Some studies show that regular exercise can:

• Encourage the body to produce more white blood cells
• Boost functioning of the immune system
• Reduce the time spent in hospital in some cases
• Increase survival rates in some cases.
  

Appropriate forms of exercise
It is important to be guided by your doctor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. Some of these are easier than others. What you choose to do will depend on your fitness, what you want to do, and what your doctor says is safe for you to do. Almost any type of exercise may be appropriate, including:

• Walking, jogging, running
• Dancing
• Tai Chi
• Cycling
• Weight training
• Team sports
• Gardening
• Yoga
• Swimming.
  

General exercise guidelines
Be guided by your doctor, but general suggestions include:

• Unless there are particular reasons why you should not exercise, try to do some exercise on most days.
• If you were physically active before your diagnosis and treatment, continue the same program. You may need to reduce the intensity, duration and frequency of the exercise.
• Aim for between five to 20 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity exercise per session. Don’t push your heart rate too high.
• Regularity is the key. Short periods of physical activity on most days of the week are far more beneficial than the occasional gruelling work-out.
• Do not force yourself to exercise when you feel exhausted. Instead, take a short stroll around the garden or do some stretches.
• Avoid exercise for the first 24 hours after chemotherapy.
• Do not exercise if you are ill – for example, if you have a fever. Consult with your doctor.
• Avoid high-impact activities (such as running or any sport that involves jumping) if you have bone cancer.
• Some cancer medications may affect your balance. Be advised by your doctor.
• If you are bedridden, perform regular stretches to help keep up your stamina. Even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
• Your doctor may recommend that you avoid exercise altogether. This is because exercise may be harmful in some cases. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice.
  

What if I don’t feel like exercising?
A lot of people who are having or have had cancer treatment get tired. You should not overexert yourself when you feel like this – do not force yourself to exercise a lot if your body is really weary. However, some exercise is possible for almost everyone. To begin with, it may just be a walk around the garden or to the end of the street.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Oncologist
• Hospital physiotherapist
• Hospital occupational therapist
• Cancer Council Victoria, Information and Support Service Tel. 13 11 20
• Peter McCallum Cancer Institute Tel. (03) 9656 1111 or (03) 9656 1918
  

Things to remember

• Physical activity can boost the energy levels of a person who has cancer.
• Regular exercise improves functioning of the immune system and may increase survival rates in some cases.
• Aim for five to 20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on most days of the week.
  

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