Can You Exercise with Breast Cancer?
Yes, you can exercise with breast cancer! In fact, there are many benefits to exercise for breast cancer patients. Exercise can help reduce fatigue, improve mood, and reduce your risk of recurrence. However, it is important to consult with your doctor before starting or changing any exercise routine.
The physical and emotional benefits of exercise are well-documented, but can exercise make a difference for breast cancer patients? The answer is a resounding yes! Exercise has been shown to help reduce fatigue, improve mood, and reduce the risk of recurrence. Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.
Reduce Fatigue
Fatigue is a common side effect of breast cancer and its treatments. Cancer-related fatigue differs from the fatigue you may feel from not getting enough sleep. It is more severe and often does not get better with rest. Exercise has been shown to help reduce fatigue in breast cancer patients. One study showed that just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise three times per week could lead to significant reductions in fatigue. ( all of our classes at The Deep Center are 30-minutes or less for this reason )
Improve Mood
It is not uncommon for breast cancer patients to experience anxiety and depression. Exercise is an effective treatment for both anxiety and depression. One study showed that just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise three times per week could lead to improved mood in breast cancer patients. Moreover, the benefits of exercise are long-lasting; the improvements in mood were still present six months after the study ended.
Reduce Risk of Recurrence
There is evidence that exercise can help reduce the risk of recurrence in breast cancer patients. One study showed that women who exercised regularly had a lower risk of recurrence than women who did not exercise regularly. Another study showed that women who exercised after being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer had a lower risk of dying from the disease than women who did not exercise. These studies suggest that exercise may help improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Exercise offers many benefits for breast cancer patients, including reduced fatigue, improved mood, and reduced risk of recurrence. If you are a breast cancer patient, talk to your doctor about starting an appropriate exercise routine. Regular exercise can help you physically and emotionally during and after your treatment journey.