Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
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16 C A NCER FIGH T ER S T HR I V E | FA LL 20 15 C A NCERFIGHTER S THRI V E .COM fear that exercising will increase their level of pain and fatigue, Whitmore teaches them that usually the opposite is true. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in April 2015 found that exercise decreased pain in breast cancer patients who were sufering from joint pain while taking aromatase inhibitors. Te participants who increased their exercise time to approximately 160 minutes per week experienced nearly a 30 percent decrease in their pain levels, while women who did not exercise experienced a 3 percent increase in pain. 1 Joints are more prone to become stif, achy and painful when people are not moving because the muscles become weaker, which can cause more stress on the joints, Whitmore says. In addition to lessening pain, exercise can decrease other side efects from treatment, such as fatigue, bone loss, scar tissue, shortness of breath, insomnia, diarrhea, constipa- tion, anxiety and depression, Whitmore says. An increasing number of studies also suggest that staying active can be an efective preventive strategy. According to the American Cancer Society, poor diet and inactivity are two key factors that can increase a person's cancer risk. Tese factors have the potential to increase an individual's amount of excess weight, which causes the body to produce and circulate more estrogen and insulin—hormones that can stimulate cancer growth. A French study published in 2014 found that postmeno- TIPS TO KEEP YOU MOVING Physical Therapist Kelly Prater Whitmore, PT, CLT, shares practical insight into creating a sustainable exercise routine. • Start slowly. If you have not been exercising, start with low-impact activities like walking. • Vary where and how you exercise. Consider going to a group class twice a week, biking or hiking with your family on the weekend and using exercise videos at home. • Establish a routine. If you like to watch a certain television program each day, you can do exercises while watching the show. • Do something you enjoy. If you are not eager to head to the gym, try gardening or walking with friends in the neighborhood. • Have a partner hold you accountable. Consider meeting with someone to exercise or asking a friend to check in with you regularly about your exercise routine. GYM SAFETY Patients undergoing treatment may fear exposure to higher levels of germs if they frequent the local gym for exercise, but in reality these facilities carry the same risk as going to the grocery store or other public places, explains Whitmore. Although there is no increased risk at a gym, some patients may feel more comfortable wearing a mask and cleaning equipment before use, she says. In certain situations physicians advise patients to avoid crowded public places during treatment; if this is the case, she urges patients to follow this recommendation. ➨