October 07, 2019
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, exercise and physical activity are important for your care plan. Exercise has numerous benefits for patients with all types and stages of cancer.
Benefits include:
- Enhancing mood
- Improving bone density
- Improving muscle strength and endurance
- Improving sleep quality
- Maintaining physical function and independence in daily living
- Maintaining quality of life
- Reducing fatigue
- Reducing respiratory conditions, such as pneumonia
How much exercise do you need?
The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute encourage all cancer survivors (anyone diagnosed with cancer) to:
- Engage in regular physical exercise
- Avoid inactivity and return to normal daily activities as soon as possible after diagnosis
- Exercise 150 minutes per week (22 minutes per day)
- Include strength-training exercises at least 2 days per week
You may have questions about how much to exercise. Recommendations will vary depending on your age, physical condition and overall health. Your cancer care team, including your medical oncologist, can help you develop a personalized exercise plan to meet your needs safely and effectively. To learn more, call 913-588-1227.