Exercise & MesotheliomaTreatment

Today’s Moderator:Dana Nolan, MS LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

ACSM Guidelines

In 2009, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) developed safe guidelines for physical activity and exercise for cancer patients in active treatment.

ACSM reviewed years of research showing physical activity during cancer treatment improved quality of life during and after treatment.

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Important Components of Exercisefor Cancer Patients

Muscle strength: Avoid atrophy and gain the ability to engage in activities of daily living.

Flexibility: Reduce strains, sprains and muscle tears. Cardiovascular fitness: Maximize blood flow

throughout the body and organs, keep heart functioning at optimal levels.

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How Does Cancer Treatment Affect Physical Fitness and Energy?

Eating less because of nausea or gastrointestinal upset can lead to muscle wasting and fatigue from malnourishment.

Being more sedentary during treatment can negatively affect flexibility, circulation and cardiovascular function.

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Benefits of Safe ExerciseDuring Cancer Treatment

Moderate exercise has been shown to reduce fatigue, which is the most common complaint among cancer patients.

Research has shown no harmful effects on cancer patients who engage in moderate exercise.

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What Type of Exercise Is Bestfor Cancer Patients?

Try to incorporate a variety of cardio, resistance/strength training and stretching.

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Cardio

Any activity that gets your heart rate up to a point where you can just carry on a conversation without being too out of breath.Walking, jogging, swimming, biking, yard work, gentle

exercise classes, etc.

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Resistance & Strength Training

Tone and maintain muscle using light weights, resistance bands or exercise machines at the gym.

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Stretching

It is important to gently stretch before and after exercise to protect muscles and joints.

Many injuries occur because of inflexible muscles and joints.

Gentle yoga and tai chi classes are helpful to warm and stretch muscles.

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How Long and How Often Should Cancer Patients Exercise?

Assess your current (or pre-diagnosis) fitness level before you begin exercising.

The goal would be to exercise at a moderate level for 30 minutes a day/5 days a week.

If you are very active, then you may need to listen to your body and reduce the amount or intensity of your typical exercise routine to 30 mins/day for 5 days/week.

If you have not regularly exercised, then you may need to slowly work up to 30 minutes/day by breaking it up into 5-10 minutes of walking or working out your muscles several times a day.

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Precautions During Cancer Treatment

Get approval from your oncologist or surgeon before beginning exercise.

Monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate as you may need to adjust your normal exercise routine if your vital signs elevate more easily when exercising while undergoing cancer treatment.

Exercise with a partner for safety. Go for a walk with a friend in case you get winded and need to stop when you are far from home.

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Precautions During Cancer Treatment (cont.)

If your immune system is compromised because of an infection or chemotherapy treatment, avoid gyms or public pools that elevate risk of viral or bacterial infections.

If you are anemic, neutropenic or have low platelets, exercise should be scaled back according to oncologist recommendations.

Listen to your body. There will be some days during treatment that you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to exercise because of treatment side effects. But, it is important to try and exercise once you get through those bad days of your treatment cycle.

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Benefits for You

Getting out of the house to go for a walk feels normal and reminds us that we can still do some activities even though we have mesothelioma.

Whatever exercise you do is psychologically and physically helpful.

Try not to compare what you are able to do now with what you were able to do before you were diagnosed.

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Benefits for You (cont.)

Research has shown that patients who maintain a moderate exercise program during their treatment report less treatment side effects.

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Contact Information

1-877-626-5916

(877) 626-5916

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