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Suggestions for Gaining Fitness While Fighting Cancer

Posted May 09 2012 10:28am
By  David Haas .

As patients battle cancer; they might wonder how they can increase their levels of exercise.  In fact, while many doctors advise mesothelioma and other cancer patients about the benefits of staying active, some individuals may not feel up to a strenuous daily workout.  Maintaining a fitness program while undergoing cancer treatments does not have to include exhausting regimens and grueling exercises, however.  Getting daily exercise does not even have to include leaving one's home.

Leaving their home might be an impossibility for many patients in the first few days after receiving treatment for mesothelioma cancer.  Radiation and chemotherapy have difficult side effects that include fatigue and nausea.  Even getting out of bed can be a chore for those who receive these therapies.  However, despite feeling ill, doctors suggest that the smallest amount of exercise goes a long way in improving a person's physical condition.  Taking a small walk down a hallway or up a small flight of stairs might make a person feel less nauseous and give that individual a boost in energy.

As the fatigue and nausea subside, the patient may put more effort into his or her daily fitness activities. At the same time, no need exists for that individual to exhaust himself or herself from these tasks. Getting exercise in one's house can include briskly sweeping the floor, vacuuming a set of stairs, or even putting away groceries in cabinets.  Lifting cans of fruits and vegetables, in fact, can act as a substitute for lifting weights.  Most physicians suggest that the most important part of working out in one's home is to elevate the patient's heart rate slightly and to get the person's blood circulating well.  Doing small chores around the home can be a suitable substitute for working out at a gym, especially for patients who are too ill to leave their homes.

If their condition warrants, patients may find that taking walks around their neighborhood can be an enjoyable way of exercising.  In fact, as the website Caring4Cancer.com suggests, walking short distances can be an excellent way of improving one's circulation and breathing.  Walking with friends or relatives also allows people to experience camaraderie, which helps ease their mental stress about their illness.  They may be able to find support and friendship by venturing outside of their homes for short walks around their communities.

However, cancer patients are advised to keep their fitness plans within their abilities.  Beginning a new exercise routine while fighting cancer may not be advisable, especially if people are new to working out on a daily basis.  Rather, they are warned to keep their exercises practical and within their physical limitations.  Exerting themselves too much could result in their becoming injured or more ill than they already are.  If they have undergone cancer surgery, they should also get their doctor's approval before beginning their exercises.  They may need to wait for stitches and incisions to heal.  After getting their physician's approval, cancer patients can find the benefit to getting daily exercise.

For more information read " Why Fitness Is Beneficial for Cancer Patients. "


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