“Go outside and play.” It’s not just a recent fad – the concept that exercise is good for us, and the cliché that “mother knows best” applies even after a diagnosis of lung cancer.
A new study now joins older studies, suggesting that even moderate amounts of exercise can improve the quality of daily life for those living with lung cancer. And not just quality of life. Those prior studies found that exercise:
- Decreases fatigue in those living with cancer
- May improve survival with lung cancer, and
- Has a preventative role against lung cancer for smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers alike
That said, I understand that exercise is not easy when faced with the symptoms of lung cancer and the side effects of treatment. Thankfully, these studies were not looking at the exercise equivalent of training for a marathon. Even light gardening a few times a week can be beneficial.
Learn more about the role of exercise in living with lung cancer and prevention, and tips for getting started:
The Role of Exercise in Treating and Preventing Lung Cancer
And, for further ideas on exercising with shortness of breath, our About.com Guide to COPD, Deborah Trendel, has some excellent tips:
Tips for Staying Safe During Exercise
Sources:
Coups, E. et al. Physical Activity among Lung Cancer Survivors: Change across the Trajectory and Associations with Quality of Life. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. 2009. Published online 02/03/09. 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0589.
