section 3 PSYCHO-SOCIAL CANCER TREATMENTS by P Henry
Exercise improves cancer outcome and QoL . We must use our resources to develop &
strengthen our abilities, enhancing ourselves from what is available2 .
The cancer experience, it’s fears of treatment/ side effects / outcomes, discourages our
movement and lowers self-esteem. The regular fatigue keeps us on the couch, bad for our
health – snowballing. Breaking this cycle re-energises us. Staying unfit, becoming flabbier,
we avoid many body movements or going out and seeing others. This breeds cognitive
deficits. Doing moves us on.-3 (increasing its branches interactive adjustments) which improves
mood and establishes a more stable healthy homeostasis 4. It regulates the endocrine
system, mobilises cytotoxic lymphocytes (NK & T cells) wielding antitumor effects and
improving our innate immune system. It reduces the levels of lactate, which participate in
tumour growth and lowering biological defences and repressing our immune system.5
Individualised exercises improve living 6. Finding your right pace can make it enjoyable and
euphoric 7. Some people are motivated through burning their calories with group activities
setting the order. Mixing high and moderate intensity exercises encourages both time use
and consistency. The amount and type of exercises are outlined by your age and disability,
so from 15 min to +1hr daily 8 . As cancer is heterogeneous, its trajectories, treatment stages,
the combination of aerobic and resistance training should be matched with individual needs
and body composition 9.
Some exercises can be part of normal daily actions – cleaning the house, TV stretches,
walking instead of driving, getting off the bus a stop earlier, dog walking, dancing, going up &
downstairs, team games, home workouts (push up, sit up, lunges, squats). Try to have a
balanced routine, improve, stretch yourself, focus on form, pay attention to your body signals
of pain or exhaustion.
Break up your inactivity with a bit of up and about movements 10 . Sedentary behaviour
increases risk for cancer and fuels cancer problems of obesity and sleep 11 . Sleep and
balance can be modified by exercise 12 – often slower exercises work better. What, which and
how much exercise is about your tolerance, heart & respiration rates, recovery, internal
activities and fruitful results. Your GP/ family doctor or physiotherapist can work out your
optimal individual program.
From the simplest walking to vigorous intensity exercises (cardiovascular), and including
less demanding moderate variations 13, benefits flourish. They influence neuro-skeletal and
bio-muscular 14 changes improving cancer outcomes 15 . You’ll be able to get out the chair more
easily. Being ill and older need not disable you.
Practising exercise routines will positively challenge the entire body homeostasis, enhance
skeletal muscles, increase metabolic activity, encourage cell tissue and organ systemic
adaptions 16 . The exercised muscle, fuelled with oxygen, inter-responds with other organs,
endocrine systems (including the HPA) and mediates whole body and mind benefits 17 . The
endocrine systems, involved in oncogenesis 18 , are improved.
These molecular and cellular complex networks responding to your exercises, increase
mitochondrial biogenesis that helps prevent cancer proliferation 19.
More exercise reduces cancer mortality and improves results 20.
So, exercise as much as possible, include walking, running, bicycling, swimming, aerobics:
increasing to at least 30 minutes daily. It is your present and future.
Next section: Slow Exercises.
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