Healing Exercise

 
 
 
childs pose 2.png

Exercise cannot cure cancer, but it can make treatments and recovery more bearable for patients.

Pilates is a gentle form of exercise that engages the mind, body, and spirit. The various Pilates exercises help develop muscular flexibility and strength while increasing metabolism and promoting lymphatic, respiratory, and circulatory function. They improve balance and coordination and also help you relax and “get centered.” Pilates is able to meet you where you are, and it can be done throughout your life and wherever you are, even while seated. For these reasons it is an excellent approach to healing for breast cancer survivors.

Breast Cancer recovery concentrates on arm and shoulder mobility, breath work, and body alignment so you can work toward symmetry and increase your range of motion. These gentle movements will help your quality of movement and awareness which strengthens your foundation for recovery. 8 Week starter programs.

 
 

Guidelines

When you think about how different we all are and how many types of cancer and treatment there are, it's difficult to write exercise guidelines to cover everyone. In general, you should check with your doctor before starting any type of exercise if you have cancer.

Researchers have looked at the safety of physical exercise during and after cancer treatment. It also reviewed what effect the exercise had. It focused on:

  • Breast cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Leukaemias and lymphomas
  • Bowel cancer
  • Gynaecologic cancers

LEARN HOW TO MANAGE CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS

Anemia and fatigue. Chemotherapy can cause you to have too few red blood cells (anemia). As a result, your tissues don't get as much oxygen, and you can become extremely tired (fatigue). Fatigue can have other causes besides chemotherapy in people with cancer — majority of people with cancer will experience fatigue, especially during and just after cancer treatment.

Your doctor may treat anemia with medications or a blood transfusion. Exercise can be good for improving fatigue, if your doctor gives you the go ahead... even 15 minutes a day may help. If you must take naps during the day, keep them short. Pace yourself and try not to take on too many responsibilities. 

Infections. Chemotherapy may cause you to produce fewer white blood cells, which leaves you at higher risk of infections. An important way to help prevent infections is to practice good hygiene.

  • Avoid germs, wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom and before meals.  
  •  Try to stay away from big crowds of people.
  • Avoid biting or picking at your nails.
  • Keep your skin moisturised, before it gets dry and cracked. 

Nausea and vomiting. 70 – 80% of patients on chemotherapy will experience nausea and vomiting. Some chemotherapy drugs are known to cause this side effect more severely than others. Cisplatin, for example, would cause these problems in virtually everyone if doctors didn't treat patients for side effects.

  • Your doctor can prescribe medication to help reduce nausea and vomiting. 
  • Avoid greasy or strong-flavored foods if they make you feel ill. If cooking smells bother you, have someone else cook and stay away from the kitchen.

Mouth sores. Brush your teeth for 90 seconds twice a day with a soft toothbrush.

  • Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and spicy and acidic foods.
  • Rinse four times daily with a simple mouthwash containing a cup of water, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.
  • If you're taking a rapid infusion of 5-fluorouracil or melphalan (Alkeran), you can help prevent mouth ulcers by holding ice or very cold water in your mouth for five minutes before the treatment until 30 minutes afterward.

Cancer treatment, and chemotherapy, in particular, can be rough. Plan in advance to help your treatment journey.