Thursday, 19 January 2012

Battling Cancer with Physical Fitness

A cancer diagnosis and treatment can be one of the most challenging events in a person's life. While a diagnosis of cancer can be a scary event for many people, there are several steps that people can take to improve their chance of recovery and quality of life. The following guide provides simple tips for minimizing treatment symptoms (whether it is chemotherapy for breast cancer or painful mesothelioma treatment), improving mood, and reducing systemic pain.
Exercise can play a valuable role for many cancer treatment patients. Cancer is caused by excessive replication of normal cells inside the human body. Cancer can be caused by a number of factors: genetics, lifestyle, viruses, and smoking can all affect one's risk of cancer.
The human body is normally able to prevent the spread of cancerous cells. Every living person has had or will have some cancerous cells inside the body. The immune system and cell regulation machinery is usually able to eliminate these cancerous cells. In some patients, cancerous cells will replicate outside the body's control.
Chemotherapy works by selectively targeting cells that are reproducing inside the body at a rapid rate. While chemotherapy can be extremely effective at eliminating cancer, it can result in a variety of symptoms. Chemotherapy will often target other types of rapidly reproducing cells inside the body. This can result in hair loss, apathy, weight loss, and systemic pain.
Exercise can counteract these symptoms in several different ways. Physical exertion releases endorphins and neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine help to control mood and appetite, while endorphins work like natural painkillers. Some endorphins can be more effective at treating pain than prescription medications.
There are several types of exercise that can be beneficial for cancer patients. It's important to avoid any type of physical activity that puts excessive stress on the body. One popular form of exercise for chemotherapy patients is yoga. Yoga is a unique combination of stretching and breathing exercises. Yoga can provide a low-intensity cardiovascular workout while improving muscle tone. In addition, yoga can provide a valuable peace of mind for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Swimming can also be an excellent type of exercise for cancer patients. Swimming provides a fantastic cardiovascular workout with minimal physical stress. The natural resistance of water can be used to build muscle mass and stretch unused sets of muscles. In addition, swimming can help alleviate the systemic pain experienced by many cancer patients.
Exercise can offer many benefits to cancer patients during recovery. While exercise can be a valuable tool, it's important to talk to one's physician or healthcare provider before beginning any physical regimen.


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