Cancer: when to exercise - when not to exercise

You have cancer ?

Should you exercise or not ?

Will exercise help or make things worse ?

Shelby Scott M.D., FACSM, FAAFP has an article in the November-December 2008 issue of ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal on 

Living with Cancer Part 2: Exercise and other treatment options.

In the category "be sensible" are these guidelines for patients with cancer:

• Check with your health care provider before beginning an exercise regimen to ensure there are no contraindications with chemotherapeutics
• Do no exercise if blood counts are low, especially the absolute neutrophil count
• Do not exercise if sodium and potassium are not normal
• Do not perform cardiovascular exercise if you feel extremely fatigued - stretch instead
• Do not use heavy weights if you have osteoporosis, cancer in the bone, or nerve damage
• Stop exercising if you have an increase in pain or difficulty breathing.

To be realistic about cancer, people often have: 

• weight loss, 
  
• anemia, 
  
• muscle wasting, 
  
• fatigue and 
  
• maybe pain.
  

Exercise cannot cure cancer but it can help:

• Exercise can prevent muscle wasting and joint stiffness
• Exercise can help sleeping more soundly
• Exercise can help reduce fatigue and increase energy levels for the rest of daily activities
• Exercise can help reduce pain by releasing endorphins in the brain.