We know exercise is good for us. But what about exercise during chemotherapy for people with advanced lung cancer? It's an important question - having experienced chemo myself. Sometimes exercise is the last thing we want to do.
Researchers decided to address that question by using a hospital-based group training program for people with inoperable stage 3 and stage 4 lung cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy.
Among those who participated in the program, not only did muscle strength improve, but these people also experienced a significant improvement in emotional well-being.
I've had many people remark to me that exercise helped them cope during chemo - even though they had to push themselves. It's nice to see that, at least in this small study, what I've heard anecdotally seems to be supported by research.
Research in the past has shown that exercise may go beyond an improvement in emotional well-being and actually increase survival for some people with lung cancer. And, thankfully, it didn't require marathon training, but simple activities that may be tolerable even amidst the symptoms of cancer and its treatments.
Source:
Quist, R. et al. Safety and feasibility of a combined exercise intervention for inoperable lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A pilot study. Lung Cancer. 2011 Aug 2 (Epub ahead of print).
Thank you so much for writing this article about exercise for lung cancer during chemotherapy. Your website has been very helpful to my family.
There’s an exercise video found on youtube (search LUNGEXERCISE) for people with lung cancer, COPD or others who wish to improve breathing (of course, consult your doctor). Exercise has helped my mom so much and these are designed by a pulmonary clinical nurse specialist specifically for these issues.
Thanks again for the reference. Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/lungexercise
Best wishes.
I have survived late stage Lung cancer for over 14 years with one lung, and I NEVER smoked. Getting through chemo and radiation plus rebuilding my devastated body, could only have happened with exercise, good nutrition, family, friends and positive attitude. Counseling many cancer patients during that time, I found that the ones who exercised during treatment had healthier attitudes and better outcomes. Fight ON!
Congratulations Paul! Your words are so encouraging. I know exercise can be the last thing people wish to do during treatment, and you are a living example that it is worth it. Blessings!
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