Posted in Exercise during cancer treatment

Sweating is an important pathway of detoxification, and a range of metabolites from heavy metals, pesticides and other chemical products can be found in human sweat. Saunas have been used for centuries to support detoxification via sweat, in order to maximise excretion of these burdensome substances – this blog post aims to explore which compounds are indeed excreted via the skin, and how is this helpful as a preventative health intervention and/or to patients with cancer.Saunas have long be...

Did you know that yoga can help reduce the risk of cancer spreading or returning?Researchers have found that practicing yoga twice a week for 75 minutes can help reduce the risk of cancer spreading or returning.  In the study published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 502 cancer survivors (2-60 months post treatment) were randomised to take part in either 2 x 75 minute yoga sessions per week or 2 x 75min standard survivorship health education sessions.  After fou...

It’s no secret that being overweight or obese is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). As a matter of fact, 1.2 million Australians were reported to have heart disease in 2018. In addition to this, 67% of adults were over-weight or obese, with a greater proportion of men compared to women. We know these stats also hold merit when assessing risk factors of cancer. Once we combine these statistics with the use of cancer-related drugs, the risk of cardiovascular-related events in...

The traditional notion of resting your body to overcome cancer treatment related fatigue has been debunked a long while ago now. Instead the research is heavily supportive of exercise and movement. Research shows that moving your body during and after cancer treatment can help with: Improved mood Improved physical function Improved strength and muscle mass Improved quality of life Improved cardiovascular fitness Improved fatigue And most importantly reduce the...

Of all the side effects of cancer treatment, some expected, some unexpected, cancer related fatigue is the most common and the most debilitating.   What is cancer related fatigue? Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent lack of energy that is not significantly improved by sleep, and is not due to over exertion. CRF feels different to a tiredness you might feel at the end of a long day that is restored with a good nights' sleep. CRF can make it difficult to cope with the ...

  Should patients with cancer exercise? Historically patients with cancer were advised to rest, however these days we know better! Physical activity and targeted exercise are beneficial for cancer prevention, recovery and survival, and should be a part of every cancer management program. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Americal College of Sports Medicine, and the specialist journal Oncology all have published multiple studies and review articles confirming...