Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 36)

Fight That Bad Boy The No. 1 goal for anyone with cancer is to beat it. In the battle for your life, exercise is your ally. First, physical activity keeps off unnecessary weight, builds muscle, improves bone density, boosts cardio health and acts as an anti-inﬂammatory. This creates the ideal environment for cells to ﬁght disease. Second, mounting research suggests that exercise helps ﬁght breast, prostate, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Some studies have found that people who exercise are more likely to complete treatment and survive and less likely to see their cancer return, Doyle says. This marks a major shift in conventional cancer wisdom. Doctors once sent patients to bed to preserve their strength, but now they are urging people to throw off the covers and work out. "We used to tell them to do it on a wing and a prayer hoping it would make a difference," Doyle says. "Now we have the studies to show the evidence on this." Your type of cancer, treatment and level of activity before diagnosis will determine what you can do, so talk with your oncologist about a safe plan. It might range from stretching in bed and walking around the block to practicing yoga and competing in a race. Show 'em Who's Boss Cancer has a way of taking over your life. That's what happened to Working Out Safely If you have cancer, chances are your health has risen to the top of your priority list. In some ways, it's the perfect time to start a workout regimen. But first, consider these five precautions, says Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity at the American Cancer Society. 1. Don't push it. If you weren't active in the past, start slowly. And if you were very active, scale back. Even marathon runner Monika Carlson, who is battling a brain tumor, takes a walk break every mile. 2. Listen to your body. "Listen to how you're feeling," Doyle says. "If there are days you don't feel like going even for a walk down the block, don't beat yourself up over it." 3. Prevent injuries. Some treatments cause numbness in the hands and feet, or alter your sense of balance. Holding the rails of a treadmill or using a stationary bike might be safer than running on uneven streets. 4. Avoid risks. "Some people going through treatment become severely anemic," Doyle says, referring to low red blood cell count. "We encourage them to delay any activity." Also, people with compromised immune systems should wear masks outdoors, and those with catheters should avoid pools and lakes. Radiation patients should stay away from chlorine, and those with ports should avoid upper-arm strength training. 5. Talk to your doctor. No one knows your health status better than your oncologist. Be sure to discuss any exercise plan before you begin. 36 WINTE R 2 013 Carlson when she learned her headaches weren't the result of work stress or a neck injury, as doctors initially thought. They were signs that cancer had grown like a tangled weed in her brainstem. Carlson is a passionate marketing professional, runner and board member of the Girls on the Run charity in San Diego. After her diagnosis in September 2012, life became a funnel cloud of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Carlson took her dog for long walks after surgery, and when she felt well enough a month later, she started running again. "It makes me feel that I'm taking charge. "Running was part of my routine, and being able to get back to that routine helps me feel more normal," she adds. "I ran marathons every year, my friends are all runners, and being able to maintain that helped me feel like myself." Exercise is a powerful way to gain control over your body, selfimage and daily routine, says Nancy S. Brennan, a survivor and the author of Active Against Cancer: A Guide to Improving Your Cancer Recovery with Exercise. The crosscountry skier took 20-minute walks and swims during treatment for ovarian cancer in 2007. "All my best memories from treatment are when I was exercising, taking a walk or a short swim. It felt like the most normal thing I did compared to putting chemicals in my chest and [experiencing] the ridiculous side effects," says Brennan, who has been in good health since treatment. "Having your identity taken away as a healthy person is rugged, and for a few minutes you can feel like a healthy person again."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Heartfelt Purpose
Not Too Busy to Beat Cancer
Got Excuses?
Managing Your Health with a DIY Tool Kit
Is It the Stress Talking?
The Wonderful World of Greens
Knee-to-Know Basics
On the Cover
Run for Your Life
14 Good-for-You Gifts
Special Delivery
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Inspired Giving
Heads Full of Hope
Out of the White
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center