GUEST POST: Cancer and Fitness

I am very excited to have my very first guest post here at Change Your Way of Thinking. This article is courtesy of Melanie Brown who contributes to The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog. Melanie is an Awareness Advocate for Natural Health and cancer cure initiatives and is currently pursuing her Master's degree. You can check out more of her articles here. 
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Cancer and Fitness

When you are diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, you know you are in for the fight of your life. You begin treatment that can include things like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. But did you know that there is one powerful tool that often goes unused? That tool is physical exercise.

Physical fitness may not cure your cancer, but it can often help with things like emotional stability, energy levels, immune system function, and sleep quality. Of course, there are precautions for some cancer patients, but most can exercise and benefit greatly from it.

One great benefit that comes with exercise is an improvement in emotional stability and mood. If you partake in some strenuous exercise, your body will secrete hormones such as endorphins that lift your mood and even help reduce pain levels. Hours after you have completed your exercises, these chemicals will still be circulating in your bloodstream, elevating your spirits and boosting your energy levels.

Exercise can also boost your immune system, helping prevent future recurrences of cancer. A recent study conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that cancer survivors who exercised several weeks following chemotherapy had higher-functioning immune systems than those who did not.

In fact, their immune systems remodeled themselves and became more efficient, which could help prevent future cancers. Regular exercise helps prevent future cancers and the chances of people getting cancer at all.

Regular physical exercise can also help with a common problem among cancer patients undergoing treatment: fatigue. If you exercise, you can expect to be less tired after your treatments. That is because exercise increases energy levels, whether you have cancers like colon cancer or mesothelioma cancer. The same benefits seen by healthy people who exercise apply to cancer patients.

If have cancer, you must take your current physical condition into account. Be realistic about how much your body can take and start slowly at first. This is not a contest. You should consult with your doctor or the physical therapy staff to offer suggestions on what type of exercise would be appropriate for you, and how much.

As you start exercising, listen to what your body is telling you. Do not be afraid to ease off if you are overdoing it. Moderation is key. You should also find a form of exercise that your enjoy doing so that you will stick with it.

*All photos were supplied by Melanie. 
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*If anyone else is interested in doing a guest post on my blog go ahead and contact me at shaylabentley {at} gmail [dot] com!

Loves...Shayla