Exercise
Boosts Recovery From Breast Cancer
Behind
the Cancer Headlines®
Women should aim for half an hour's
gentle exercise three times a week to aid their recovery from breast cancer,
according to early results revealed at a
Currently the standard treatment
for breast cancer involves no exercise therapy. However, the initial findings
from a Cancer Research UK trial has shown that exercise therapy and lifestyle
counseling could hasten recovery and improve the long-term physical and mental
well being of women who are recovering from breast cancer.
As more women undergo successful
treatment for breast cancer, many are experiencing ongoing side effects after
their treatment. These long term physical side effects can include weight gain,
insomnia, fatigue, loss of muscle tone, reduced flexibility and loss of libido.
These physical symptoms can then lead to feelings of low self esteem,
depression, anxiety or lack of confidence.
Launched in late 2002 the trial is
designed to follow over 150 women, randomly divided into three separate groups,
through an eight week program.
The first group took part in an
exercise program designed to suit their physical ability. At each session an
exercise therapist also works with the women to support and encourage them to
include more physical activity into their daily lives.
The second group
followed a body conditioning program but were given no encouragement to
do more physical activity, while the third were offered only currently
available standard treatment.
After the eight weeks, the women
were monitored at three and six months to see whether they continued with their
routines and how they rated their health and wellbeing.
Those women who took part in the
fully tailored exercise plan showed the most positive results, reporting lower
depression, an increases satisfaction with their lives and a reduction in their
weight.
The study's lead researcher, Dr.
Amanda Daley, based at the
"What
we've been looking at is whether, by including exercise therapy after cancer
treatment, we can help women to feel better about themselves
and improve their general quality of life.
She adds: "These early results
are very positive and show that far from causing fatigue and tiredness, women
benefit from this increased activity. Fitness levels, muscle tone and weight
can improve and women report having a more positive outlook. The beauty of this
type of treatment is its simplicity, it can include something as
straightforward as walking your dog."
SOURCES:
Cancer Research UK
(http://www.cancerresearchuk.org)