From Runner’s World – June 2011: Outrunning Cancer
From the Baltimore Sun – May 12, 2011: Running Down Cancer
From the American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors:
“Although there are specific risks associated with cancer treatments that need to be considered when survivors exercise, there seems to be consistent evidence that exercise is safe during and after cancer treatment.” ACSM Exercise Guidelines
From the 33rd Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society Ruth van Gerpen, RN, MS, OCN, as reported by HemOnc Today, June 10, 2008, p. 16:
Exercise helps improve cancer-related fatique
In cancer patients, 20-30 minute sessions of mixed exercise 4 times per week together with an educational, supportive care program significantly improved fatigue, depression and overall quality of life.
Exercise eases the burden of cancer-related fatigue, depression and decreased quality of life, according to Ruth van Gerpen, RN, MS, OCN, a clinical nurse specialist. “The prevalence of fatigue is between 60% and 96% among patients sill on treatment,” van Gerpen said. “Fatigue can persist in patients with cancer for months or years following completion of treatment.”
Results from prior research have supported the use of exercise as an intervention to reduce fatigue, according to van Gerpen. To test this intervention, she and colleagues initiated the LifeSpring Program, a 12-week exercise and education program for people with cancer diagnosed in the past two years or who are still on active treatment. It was designed to impact fatigue associated with cancer and cancer treatment. To date 47 participants aged between 32 and 77 have participated. The patients had to rate their level of fatigue, depression, pain, sleep quality and quality of life prior to beginning the program. They repeated the self-assessment mid- and post-program. Exercise was required at least two times per week with 20 to 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and 20 to 30 minutes of additional exercise through a method such as yoga, pilates, strength training or stretching. Education classes included information about a wide variety of topics such as energy conservation, relationships, sleep, and spirituality. There was a statistically significant improvement seen between pre-program and post-program outcomes. Patients enrolled in the program also benefited from the supportive environment, sharing and discussion, and a sense of belonging and being understood, van Gerpen said.
*To see additional information and research on cancer and exercise please see E&N Exercise News 2008 Indexed & Bookmarked