Moderate exercise can be beneficial for melanoma patients during treatment. However, long-term, vigorous exercise could increase your risk of developing melanoma, especially when exercising outdoors, according to a 2006 article in U.S. News & World Report.
The Basics
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, according to MayoClinic.com. It develops in the melanocytes, which are the cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds is thought to damage the DNA in melanocytyes, causing the cells to grow out of control and form cancerous cells. Your genetic makeup can also predispose you to melanoma. A change in an existing mole or the development of a new, abnormal-looking skin growth are early signs of melanoma and warrant a visit to the doctor. Early-stage melanoma may be surgically removed, but advanced-stage melanoma that has spread beyond the skin might require treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.
Benefits
Exercise is not only safe during cancer treatment, but it can also improve physical functioning and your quality of life. However, people getting chemotherapy or radiation might need to exercise at a lower intensity for a while. A study published in the Oncology Nursing Forum, suggests that exercise might play a role in reducing fatigue in melanoma patients, a common side effect of melanoma treatments. As they were beginning a melanoma treatment called interferon-a, 12 patients were instructed to take methylphenidate every morning, a drug intended to reduce fatigue, and follow an aerobic exercise program four days a week for 15 to 30 minutes. The study concluded that the combination of methylphenidate and aerobic exercise might have a positive effect on fatigue, cognitive function and functional ability in melanoma patients. More research is needed, however, on the effect of exercise alone in reducing fatigue in melanoma patients.
Risks
Research suggests that distance runners might be at an increased risk for developing melanoma, according to the U.S. News & World Report article. Increased sun exposure is the obvious factor. However, researchers also suspect that heavy exercise suppresses the immune system, making marathon runners vulnerable to cancer. Studies have also shown that Ironman triathletes and professional cyclists, who also spend a significant amount of time training and competing in the sun, are exposed to high doses of ultraviolet radiation, and that sweating makes the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. It is thought that tissue damage that occurs during long-term, intense exercise may release certain proteins that make the immune system less capable of fighting off skin cancer.
Precautions
The American Cancer Society suggests that cancer patients take a few precautions when exercising. If you have severe anemia, or low red blood cell counts, don't exercise until the condition has improved. If you have a weak immune system, avoid exercising in public places such as gyms until your white blood cell counts return to safe levels. People getting radiation should avoid swimming pools because chlorine can irritate the affected skin. Talk to your doctor to determine what level of activity is appropriate for you during each phase of the cancer journey.
Considerations
The correlation between intense exercise and an increased risk of melanoma should not keep you from exercising. Immunosuppression is suspected only in very intense exercise, not the 30 to 60 minutes daily recommended for good health. The benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks. Regardless of your intensity level, consider these tips when exercising outdoors: wear protective clothing, liberally apply waterproof sunblock and try not to exercise outdoors when during midday, when the sun is strongest.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Melanoma
- Oncology Nursing Society: "Oncology Nursing Forum": nterferon-Induced Fatigue in Patients With Melanoma: A Pilot Study of Exercise and Methylphenidate
- U.S. News and World Report: Diet, Fitness, and Exercise: Marathoners and Melanoma
- American Cancer Society: Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: Answers to Common Questions
