Why is exercise important to the survivor?

The need for exercise among survivors of breast cancer is more important now than it has ever been. Recent studies state that exercise is an effective intervention for improving quality of life, cardio respiratory fitness, physical functioning, and reducing the symptoms of fatigue in breast cancer patients and survivors. Scientific evidence indicates that physical activity may reduce the risk of several types of cancer including breast and colon cancer as well as providing other important health benefits.

 

In Canada, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. It develops in one out of every nine women and one out of every twenty-eight will die from it. Such a prominent illness deserves serious attention; however, there are presently no standardized guidelines in place for the management of breast cancer post treatment/surgery. Individuals will often return home from the Doctor’s office ignorant about how to enhance their healing process with little or no information on where to find an appropriate exercise program or a physiotherapist for follow-up treatment. Clearly a void exists between the stages of diagnosis and recover. That gap must be closed.

 

After active treatment ends, survivors may suffer from any of the following conditions: weight gain, fatigue, forgetfulness, trouble thinking, increased risk of osteoporosis, pulmonary fibrosis, restrictive lung disease, anxiety and depression. They will also experience a remarkable decrease in their functional capacity due to a loss in range of motion in the affected arm accompanied by muscle atrophy. As a result, basic daily activities that were once taken for granted such as combing one’s hair or drinking from a cup will prove to be both challenging and frustrating.