A cancer diagnosis shouldn't stop patients from exercising (if approved by their oncologist.) In fact, exercise can improve a patient's quality of life. Benefits of increased exercise during cancer treatment include less fatigue, stress and anxiety. Over multiple studies, it was shown there was a link between exercise and decreased cancer recurrence. Learn what types of exercise should be incorporated into a cancer survivor's fitness routine.

1. Exercise and
Mesothelioma Treatment
Today’s Moderator:
Dana Nolan, MS LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

2. Recommendations to Exercise
American College of Sports Medicine in 2009
developed safe guidelines for physical activity
and exercise for cancer patients in active
treatment.
Years of research showed that physical
activity during cancer treatment improved
quality of life during and after treatment.
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3. Research Update 2018
 Two large meta-analysis studies were published in
2017 that continue to uphold the importance of
exercise for patients during and after cancer
treatment.
 Benefits of increased exercise during cancer
treatment include less fatigue, stress and anxiety.
Over multiple studies, it was shown there was a link
between exercise and decreased cancer recurrence.
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4. Components of Exercise Important
for Cancer Patients
Muscle Strength: Avoids atrophy and ability
to engage in activities of daily living
Flexibility: Reduces strains, sprains and
muscle tears
Cardiovascular Fitness: Maximizes blood
flow throughout the body and organs, It also
keeps heart optimally functioning
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5. How Does Cancer Treatment Affect
Physical Fitness and Energy?
Eating less because of nausea or GI upset
can lead to muscle wasting and fatigue due
to malnourishment.
Being more sedentary during treatment can
negatively affect flexibility, circulation and
cardiovascular function.
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6. Benefits of Safe Exercise During
Cancer Treatment
Moderate exercise has been shown to reduce
fatigue which is a the most common complaint
among cancer patients.
Research has shown no harmful effects on
cancer patients when they engage in moderate
exercise.
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7. What Type of Exercise Is
Best for Cancer Patients?
Incorporate cardio, resistance/strength
training and stretching.
Cardio: Any activity that gets your heart
rate up to a point where you can just
carry on a conversation without being
too out of breath.
Walking, jogging, swimming, bike riding,
yard work, gentle exercise classes
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8. Resistance/Strength Training
Tone and maintain muscle by using light
weights, resistance bands or exercise
machines at the gym.
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9. Stretching
It is important to gently stretch before and
after exercise to protect muscles and joints.
Many injuries occur because of inflexible
muscles and joints.
Gentle yoga and tai chi classes are helpful to
warm up and stretch muscles.
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10. How Long and How Often Should
Cancer Patients Exercise?
Assess your current (or prediagnosis) fitness
level before you begin exercising.
The goal would be to exercise 5 days a week
at a moderate level for 30 minutes a day.
If you are very fit and active, then you may
need to listen to your body and reduce the
amount or intensity of your exercise routine
to reach 30 mins/day for 5 days/week.
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11. How Long and How Often (cont.)?
If you have not regularly engaged in exercise,
then you may need to slowly work up to 30
minutes/day, by breaking it up into 5-10
minutes of walking or working out your
muscles several times a day.
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12. Precautions During Cancer Treatment
Get approval from your oncologist and/or
surgeon before beginning exercise.
Monitor your heart rate, BP and breathing
rate as you may need to adjust your normal
exercise routine if your vital signs elevate
more easily when exercising while undergoing
cancer treatment.
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13. Precautions (cont.)
Exercise with a partner for safety. Go for a
walk with a friend in case you get winded and
need to stop when you are far from home.
If your immune system is compromised due to
an infection or chemotherapy treatment,
avoid gyms or public pools where you risk
viral or bacterial infections.
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14. Precautions (cont.)
If you are anemic, neutropenic or have low
platelets, exercise should be avoided or scaled
back according to oncologist recommendations.
Listen to your body. There will be some days
during treatment that you can’t (and shouldn’t)
try to exercise due to treatment effects, but it is
important to try and exercise once you get
through those bad days of your treatment cycle.
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15. Benefits to YOU
Getting out of the house to go for a walk feels
normal and reminds us that we can still do
some activities even though we have
mesothelioma.
Whatever exercise you are able to do is
psychologically and physically helpful to you.
Try not to compare what you are able to do
now with what you were able to do before
you were diagnosed.
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16. Benefits (cont.)
Research has shown that patients who try to
maintain a moderate exercise program during
their treatment report less treatment side
effects and an improved quality of life.
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17. Sources
The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Mortality,
Recurrence, and Treatment-Related Adverse
Effects. Cormie P, Zopf EM, Zhang X, Schmitz KH.
Epidemiol Rev (2017) 39 (1): 71-92. Published: 27
April 2017.
Thomas RJ, Kenfield SA, Jimenez A. Exercise-
induced biochemical changes and their potential
influence on cancer: a scientific review. Br J Sports
Med 2017;51:640-644.
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18. Contact Information
1-877-626-5916
(877) 626-5916
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