Importance of Exercise in Cancer Care

Studies have shown that adding exercise to your care plan can greatly improve outcomes including improving overall survival rates.  Physical activity has been shown to reduce cancer related fatigue , depression, brain fog aka chemo brain, muscle weakness,  and enhance quality of life.  Adding exercise to your care plan improves the body’s immune response and decreases inflammation. Exercise can increase the effectiveness of anticancer treatments such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy.  

Exercise also helps reduce other cancer related symptoms/ treatment side effects such as constipation and thromboembolisms or blood clots that can be life threatening.  

It is recommended that physical activity should be a part of every cancer patient’s treatment plan.  Physical activity should not be a one size fits all approach and exercise regimens should be catered to each person’s individual needs and abilities.  You can ask your doctor to prescribe physical therapy as part of your treatment plan.