Several researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have been studying the effects of exercise on patients with cancer for some time now.
“In 15 years, we have gone from being afraid to recommend exercise to people with cancer to having enough data that show, by and large, that it is safe and effective, particularly for relief of treatment side effects,” suggests Karen Mustian, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY.
Lisa K. Sprod, PhD, with the James P. Wilot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center, analyzed a national sample of nearly 14,900 people. She found that patients with cancer or cancer survivors are less physically active than people without cancer, a reality that has been linked to increased risk for cancer recurrence and reduced survival in this patient population. Dr Sprod notes that it is not clear whether cancer treatment contributes to such reduced physical activity or whether patients with cancer and their physicians are concerned with safety issues for these patients.
Yet a third researcher at the university, Luke J. Peppone, PhD, has shown that women with breast cancer who participated in a weekly yoga program and were taking aromatase inhibitors reported reduced medication side effects, including less pain, reduced muscle aches, and less overall physical discomfort. These new data reinforce the value of exercise for overall well-being and improved quality of life for patients with cancer. University of Rochester Medical Center newsroom; May 30, 2012
