It's very easy to feel isolated while having cancer. For the world around you to compress, you to feel minuscule, and that you don't have a place in it.
Exercise can be immensely helpful before, during, and after treatment, but having cancer is likely to alter your energy, mood, and level of fitness.
I have said this before, get out there, do it, clearing your head helps wonders. Getting out there first is the hardest challenge. In order to offset this try some gentle exercises that are of a low-impact such as going for a walk or swimming, and building it up from there.
Some activities will suit you regardless of your current fitness level or capacity to exercise. If you're able to, mixing up the routine - and ranges of sports - can help keep the exercise fun and keep you motivated. The duration of exercises isn't of importance, getting outside in the fresh air, you will see the benefits. This could easily be a simple walk around the block or your garden and gradually up the difficulty.
Are there any limits on how frequently you can exercise?
When you have cancer there are some limitations around what you can do and what you are able to do. Only a fool would argue otherwise. During treatment and after you should try to avoid being inactive as this can lead to many other issues. By trying to get back to a normal routine will help alleviate any issues that arise i.e. new challenges that you may face or your cancer spreading.
If possible, slowly build up the amount you are able to do, a little bit of activity is better than no activity at all. As you're confidence levels improve and you feel better about yourself, increase the amount you can do.
How much you should exercise is different for each person. Partaking in exercise will help keep your muscle strength and keep you able to do things you want and need to do. The more active you are, the better you’ll be able to exercise and function. But even if planned exercise stops, it’s good to keep being active by doing your normal activities as much as you can.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise while receiving cancer treatment
It is empowering to exercise to enhance outcomes while receiving cancer treatment. It restores control back to the patient during a period when cancer has caused a loss of control. Patients will differ in how much physical exercise they can handle.
“The type of cancer you have, the treatments you’re receiving, the side effects you’re experiencing, and your level of fitness will all be factored into your exercise plan,” Basen-Engquist says.
No matter your age, health or how busy you are there are lots of ways to be more active
Some people may find it more difficult to increase their level of activity because they have fewer options or chances to include exercise in their daily lives. This might be brought on by commitments related to a job, family, caregiving, or a medical condition.
Experiment with various choices. Choose a hobby or activity you love. Before enrolling in a new class, discuss any assistance needs you may have with the instructor
To make things more manageable, increase the amount of activities gradually and, if it's easier, divide them up over the day or the week
A medical professional will go over your options with you for starting an exercise regimen and what to avoid
Exercising when you live illness-free or with stable disease
Engaging in physical activity is crucial for maintaining your general health and well-being. According to research, maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, and engaging in regular physical activity can all help lower the chance of developing cancer again. It has been proven that exercise improves a number of quality-of-life aspects for cancer patients, including cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, body composition, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.
Ensure that you stay motivated and positive
It’s important to start slow, you don’t want to accidentally overdo things by doing too much too soon. You might feel like you can do more but treat it as a more long-term task.
Integrate the exercise into your daily routine to increase the likelihood that it will become a habit
Exercise will be more motivating if you try to complete it in a group environment or find new activities to perform with your loved ones. It's more likely that you'll continue
It might be challenging to make several changes to your routine at once, so set achievable targets. Before feeling ready to put in more, try starting with one or two minor adjustments that help you move more
You are not limited to participating in a single kind of activity. Engaging in a range of activities could help you stay more motivated. You may adjust it to fit your needs for that particular day
Make sure you enjoy yourself - exercise should be fun not a burden, so try something else if you find that a certain activity isn't working for you after a few attempts
Above all else persevere and you'll see the benefits
One final thing to remember, exercise shouldn’t hurt or leave you breathless when you stop.
Read more on exercising from Cancer Research and Macmillan. They both provide advice on how to exercise with a diagnosis and what's suitable to do.