Benefits of Physical Exercise

There are many benefits to physical exercise for cancer patients and cancer survivors

Benefits During treatment:weights-2

  • Decrease treatment-related side effects (after surgery, chemotherapy & radiotherapy)
  • Pre and post-surgical rehabilitation
  • Helps prevent weight gain during & post treatment
  • Maintain bone (mineral density), muscles &joint strength
  • Improve mobility & overall functional independence
  • Prevent deconditioning & muscle wasting
  • Naturally strengthens immune system/function
  • Decreases length of stay in hospital & complications
  • Improves lung function & decreases cardiac (heart) toxicity
  • Decreases incidence of nausea, improves appetite & bowel function
  • Improves quality of life
  • Facilitates functional autonomy

Psychological benefits:

  • Helps increase self-esteem, confidence, self-image and sense of personal worth
  • Healthy coping mechanism
  • Decreases depression, tension, stress and anxiety levels

Benefits of Exercise for survivorship and recurrence:

  • Reduces the risk of cancer recurrence & mortality
  • Improves body image
  • Helps with the physical capacity to return back to work

Benefits in Advanced disease:

  • Symptom management & pain relief
  • Maintaining function/ independence
  • Preserves end of life dignity and autonomy