Regular Exercise Can Improve Quality of Life For Breast Cancer Patients
Researchers at the University of Alberta found that regular exercise, both during and after chemotherapy, can improve the quality of life as well as cancer-related symptoms in breast cancer patients.
Combining cardio, resistance training best for breast cancer patients, study suggests
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
Despite confirming that benefits of exercise for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy wear off quickly once they stop, a new University of Alberta study also showed that patients prescribed a training regimen with a resistance-training component were more likely to continue exercising once their treatment ended.
In addition, many chemotherapy patients discovered that substances like marijuana were highly beneficial at the time. Cannabis users with cancer claim that it helps them in a variety of ways, including by reducing nausea, preventing vomiting, boosting appetite, reducing pain, and reducing anxiety. Additionally, conventional treatments might be complemented with drugs based on particular compounds found in marijuana, or individuals for whom such therapies have failed could be treated. The majority of people believe that marijuana can only be used for recreational purposes since it has been heavily marketed in movies over the years (check this out – https://filmthreat.com/features/cannabis-cinema-the-unbreakable-connection-between-the-two/). Evidently, though, that’s not the case.
In the study, led by U of A post-doctoral fellow Ki-Yong An, 301 breast-cancer patients were put through varying exercise programs in an effort to identify the optimal exercise mix.
The Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise (CARE) Trial compared a thrice‐weekly standard dose of 25–30 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise on an exercise bike, a higher dose of 50–60 minutes of aerobic exercise and a 50- to 60-minute combination of aerobic and resistance exercise. The exercise programs, which ran for about five months, began within a week of starting chemotherapy and continued for three weeks after the last treatment.
After the initial course of monitored exercise, participants were encouraged to keep exercising but were left to their own devices. An and his team then followed up with them at intervals of six, 12 and 24 months. Some were able to take time to go for a run in the fields or down the street, while others decided to invest in an electric bicycle to give them a smoother and easier form of exercise.
“Exercise during chemotherapy for breast cancer is associated with a number of improvements in patient health during chemotherapy; however, many of the benefits of exercise dissipate quickly after cessation of the exercise,” said An.
And while there wasn’t much evidence that supported any differences between the prescribed doses and types of exercise during the two-year followup period, An said engaging in combined exercise during chemotherapy spurred increased exercise participation rates after chemotherapy, as well as higher muscular fitness in the long term.
In fact, roughly half of patients who underwent the combined fitness program were still meeting the resistance training portion at the six-,12- and 24-month followup, while only one-third of patients prescribed high-dose aerobic exercise were meeting the resistance guideline.
An also noted that patients who took part in the combined exercise outpaced their high aerobic counterparts in upper-body muscular endurance at 12 months.
Regardless of the exercise intervention group, participants who consistently participated in regular exercise, especially combined exercise, after chemotherapy had relatively better quality of life, lower cancer-related symptoms and higher fitness levels.
“Taken together, these findings suggest that combined exercise during and after chemotherapy may be optimal for breast cancer patients,” said An.
“Exercise only during chemotherapy is not enough for their quality of life after treatment. To keep their higher quality of life and good mental health, they need to continue their exercise after treatment.”
Improve Your Quality of Life
Quality of life and health quality have been a popular topic of discussion this week as it is National Health Quality Week. SURVIVEiT encourages you to define your own health journey and take responsibility for your health. Here are 5 tips to help you improve your health quality.
Breast Cancer Resources
For more information for breast cancer patients and caregivers, visit our breast cancer resource library. You’ll find helpful articles and questions to ask your oncologist.