Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer in the United States, according to MayoClinic.com. As part of your treatment, your doctor may recommend working regular exercise into your daily routine. Exercise may also reduce the risk of forming lung cancer. If you feel any pain during exercise, discontinue and consult your doctor.
Benefits
If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, exercise may help reduce some of the symptoms associated with the disease. A patient with lung cancer who exercises often experiences a reduction in fatigue and improved physical functioning, the American Cancer Society says. These benefits occur both during and after lung cancer treatment.
Challenges
The challenge of exercise for lung cancer patients involves the symptoms associated with the disease. Chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue may make it difficult to exercise. Your doctor may recommend that you wait until after treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery, before starting an exercise program.
Expert Insight
A study done in 2008 at the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that patients with lung cancer could safely exercise after surgery for the disease. Participants of the study were required to ride a stationary bike for an hour at least three times a week. The patients reported feeling better and more energized after 14 weeks. Although exercise may be beneficial, it was found by the "Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Journal" that most lung cancer patients do not meet exercise guidelines and may benefit from interventions to promote regular physical activity.
Yoga
MayoClinic.com recommends yoga as a form of exercise for individuals with lung cancer. Benefits of yoga include helping you sleep better as you go through cancer treatments. Yoga requires you to perform some simple stretches and teaches relaxation and deep-breathing techniques.
Prevention
According to studies cited by the National Cancer Institute, if you participate in high levels of physical activity, you reduce your risk of getting lung cancer by approximately 20 percent. However, if you smoke, you lose any benefit that regular exercise can provide against lung cancer formation.
References
- "Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Journal"; Physical Activity Among Lung Cancer Survivors: Changes Across the Cancer Trajectory and Associations with Quality of Life
- National Cancer Institute: Physical Activity and Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Lung Cancer Patients: Post-Surgery Exercise Beneficial
- MayoClinic.com: Lung Cancer
