We are what we eat… and we are also what we move.
Human evolution has made it possible to build and prepare the body for exercise, but unfortunately, modern lifestyle and new forms of leisure encourage a sedentary way of life for both children and adults.
Exercise as a medical prescription.
Prescribing physical activity to the general population is an ideal strategy for preventing the modern chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer. It is up to health professionals to recommend personalised exercise not only for cancer prevention, but also for cancer patients themselves (both during and after cancer treatment).
But… what exactly is physical activity?
We need to distinguish between physical activity and exercise. Physical activity is what we do in our daily lives (climbing stairs, walking, lifting light objects), while exercise is a type of programmed physical activity that can be aerobic (such as long walks, jogging or running) or anaerobic (such as lifting weights). A tailored programme of moderate physical activity 3-5 times a week is recommended for people with cancer.
What are the benefits of exercise for people with cancer?
A personalised exercise programme not only improves overall cancer symptoms and tolerance to cancer treatment, but also improves survival and mood. It’s a win-win.
How does exercise improve my condition as a cancer patient?
Among the many benefits of exercise for cancer patients are regulating blood sugar levels, significantly reducing fatigue (the commonest symptom of all cancers), and maintaining overall muscular mass. This last benefit of physical exercise is of crucial importance for cancer patients, since numerous publications have shown that the maintenance of muscle mass not only allows better survival rates during cancer treatments, but also allows the secretion of substances called myokines, improving hormone regulation at several organic levels (increasing GLP1 levels in the pancreas, improving insulin sensitivity and glucose consumption, increasing fatty acid oxidation, improving memory and learning, and so on). In other words, the same musculature that allows us to move from one side to the other or to lift weights would be considered as an organ that generates the secretion of endogenous substances very favourable to the pursuit of a healthy longevity.
How much exercise should I do as an oncology patient?
Each pattern must be personalised for each patient, but in general a moderate intensity exercise pattern (e.g. 7,500 steps per day) between 4-5 times a week can be a good start to a routine of progressively increasing intensity.
