Cancer treatment often results in adverse long-term persistent side effects. Common side effects of cancer related surgery and adjuvant treatment include:
- Cancer-related Fatigue
- Pain
- Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
- Lymphedema
- Cardiovascular Changes
- Cognitive Changes
- Decreased Bone Health
- Pulmonary Changes
- Loss of Muscle Mass
- Soft Tissue Flexibility Changes
- Impaired Immune System Function
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends cancer survivors regularly participate in 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise activity (3 times weekly) and moderate intensity resistance training for all major muscle groups (twice weekly).
Regular exercise participation helps improve the cancer-related fatigue symptoms, health-related quality of life impairments, mood disorders, sleep quality disturbances and physical function limitations most experienced by survivors.
Most importantly, regular survivor exercise participation has been linked to decreased cancer recurrence risk for certain types of cancer.
Exercise participation modifications that typically benefit survivors include: a slower progression of exercise activities, exercise performance in smaller bouts during a time of day when survivor energy levels are higher, and careful monitoring of fatigue levels during exercise performance.
