Macksville Clinic - 2/12 Cooper St, Macksville, NSW, 2447 - Nambucca Heads Clinic - 20 Liston St, Nambucca Heads, NSW, 2448

CANCER

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that affect the body. In general, cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide and multiply without control. Our exercise physiologist can work with your cancer treatment plan to keep you fit and healthy, to reduce symptoms such as fatigue and improve your ability to participate in the things that you want to do.

WHERE DOES EXERCISE FIT IN WITH CANCER?

It is possible for people to exercise before, during and after cancer treatment. The aim of exercise before surgery is to maximise your physical fitness to help you tolerate treatment better and speed up your recovery. Whilst exercise during treatment aims to keep you fit, reduce symptoms, and maximise your quality of life and mental health. Exercise after finishing surgery or treatment aims to restore any loss in fitness and muscle mass/strength that occurred while having treatment, and maximise your functional abilities, mental health and quality of life for the long-term. 

Exercise is really important to help combat cancer related fatigue. Exercise helps to build up your endurance. Exercise is also a treatment for fatigue as exercise itself is energising. Exercise is a demand on your body and therefore it’s important the exercise intensity and volume are tailored to your fitness level, treatment and stage of cancer. Unfortunately some of the treatments for cancer increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and therefore it’s important to exercise as exercise has a protective effect on your heart and blood vessels.

BENEFITS OF EXERCISING

  • Improving exercise capacity (fitness)
  • Improving muscle strength
  • Promote return to the activities you were previously doing
  • Reducing cancer symptoms (including breathlessness and cancer-related fatigue)
  • Reducing depression
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Reducing cancer distress
  • Improving the quality of life.

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of disease that affects the body.

Our exercise physiologist can work with your cancer treatment plan to keep you fit and healthy, to reduce symptoms such as fatigue and improve your QoL.

When Should I Exercise?

Before exercising you should undergo a pre-screening assessment to ensure there are no dangers to exercise this will give your EP and doctors an understanding your baseline level of physical activity. It is possible for people to exercise before, during or after cancer treatment.

The aim of exercise before surgery is to maximise your physical fitness to help you tolerate treatment better and speed up your recovery. Whilst exercise during treatment aims to keep you fit, reduce symptoms, and maximise your quality of life and psychological status. Exercise after finishing surgery or treatment aims to restore any loss in fitness and muscle strength that occurred while having treatment, and maximise your functional abilities, psychological status and quality of life for the long-term.

  • Improving exercise capacity (fitness)
  • Improving muscle strength
  • Reducing cancer symptoms (including breathlessness and cancer-related fatigue)
  • Reducing depression
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Reducing cancer distress
  • Improving the quality of life.

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