Here’s the bottom line: research shows that exercise can lower your risk of breast cancer and also help you cope better with treatment if you’ve already been diagnosed. Numerous studies back this up. On average, your risk reduction is about 12 percent, and that should be significant enough to keep you motivated. But the truth of the matter is that exercise is so much more than that.
We know that exercising helps strengthen your heart and is good for your overall sense of wellbeing. It probably sounds counter-intuitive to be exercising during chemotherapy or undergoing radiation, but getting out and getting some sort of exercise–no matter how hard it seems at the time–will help. Keeping even a little bit active helps alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy.
You could even seek out programs geared for breast cancer patients, like yoga, which will help motivate you and ensure you’re staying engaged with the outside world. Plus, it benefits you spiritually, as it allows you to reflect inward on your spiritual state to relieve any internal tension that could reside from your diagnosis.
The great thing is that even if you’re resistant to exercise, it comes in so many different forms that finding one you enjoy can only heighten the positive effects. Hiking, biking, walking, dancing, and other enjoyable activities are all considered exercise, so get out there and find the one that speaks to you! You’ll be glad you did and will feel the benefits of your healthy new-found hobby almost immediately.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More
Here’s the bottom line: research shows that exercise can lower your risk of breast cancer and also help you cope better with treatment if you’ve already been diagnosed. Numerous studies back this up. On average, your risk reduction is about 12 percent, and that should be significant enough to keep you motivated. But the truth of the matter is that exercise is so much more than that.
We know that exercising helps strengthen your heart and is good for your overall sense of wellbeing. It probably sounds counter-intuitive to be exercising during chemotherapy or undergoing radiation, but getting out and getting some sort of exercise–no matter how hard it seems at the time–will help. Keeping even a little bit active helps alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy.
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You could even seek out programs geared for breast cancer patients, like yoga, which will help motivate you and ensure you’re staying engaged with the outside world. Plus, it benefits you spiritually, as it allows you to reflect inward on your spiritual state to relieve any internal tension that could reside from your diagnosis.
The great thing is that even if you’re resistant to exercise, it comes in so many different forms that finding one you enjoy can only heighten the positive effects. Hiking, biking, walking, dancing, and other enjoyable activities are all considered exercise, so get out there and find the one that speaks to you! You’ll be glad you did and will feel the benefits of your healthy new-found hobby almost immediately.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More
