Light to Advanced Exercises for Cancer Treatment
During cancer recovery, it has been proven that exercise and physical fitness can help you to improve your overall quality of life and energy levels. While fitness is certainly not a cure for cancer, it can assist you in making you feel better about yourself and the way that you live your life on a day-to-day basis. Whether you are undergoing aggressive cancer treatments, are recovering from cancer treatment or are in the later stages of recovery or remission, there are many different exercises that can be done for your stage of cancer recovery.
Light Exercise – Walking
If you are currently dealing with a serious form of cancer and are undergoing vigorous cancer treatments, there is no need to sit indoors all day. Walking is one of the best light exercises that you can easily take advantage of when dealing with this stage of cancer recovery. Walking offers benefits such as the reduction of fatigue that is commonly caused by chemotherapy and radiation, emotional benefits, the improvement of muscle strength and will help to slow down bone loss.
Walking is an excellent light exercise option for those battling pleural mesothelioma or cancers affecting the lungs that make breathing difficult. Walking can be done slowly and a little at a time. From a few steps down the sidewalk to a walk around the block, patients can build up their stamina with this exercise that is not too strenuous.
Moderate Exercise – Yoga
Yoga is an excellent exercise option for those who are currently recovering from prior cancer treatments. These exercises are not too strenuous, but still help to gradually regain strength and stamina. Some benefits of yoga in prior cancer patients include a decrease in fatigue, decreased pain, and increased flexibility and less physical distress that treatments may have caused.
Yoga can be very beneficial in reducing stress levels, which can actually lower the risk of developing cancer again in the future. Through yoga, you will center your thoughts, mind and body while improving your overall quality of life. Recent studies have also shown that the practice of yoga can be very beneficial for current and prior cancer patients.
Advanced Exercise – Aerobics
If you are in the later stages of cancer recovery, more advanced exercises can be very beneficial for your overall health. Regain your strength and improve your overall physical condition by taking advantage of a regular aerobics routine. Aerobics can be beneficial in combatting treatment related fatigue, strengthening the heart and lungs, improving emotional health and enhancing brain function. Participating in aerobics involves continuous movements that are designed to up your energy level and reduce the fatigue that you may commonly be dealing with.
By taking advantage of these exercises for various stages of cancer treatment,you can greatly increase your overall health, emotional stability and more. Rather than spending your days cooped up in the house where you may deal with many issues that cancer and treatment cause, getting out and enjoying physical activity will enable you to live a better quality of life. Staying positive and participating in physical activity play major roles in overcoming your disease.
About the Author
Melanie is currently a Master’s student with a passion that stems from her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis. She often highlights the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. To read more from Melanie, visit her blog for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. In her spare time, you can find Melanie trying new vegan recipes, on her yoga mat, or spending time with her family.
