Cancer treatment affects your entire body, and can have impacts on your body even if only one area was targeted for treatment. Treatment can leave you weaker and more prone to fatigue. Your lungs and heart, like your other muscles, will take time to regain strength. Exercise during and after treatment can be beneficial in increasing endurance. However, breathing difficulties can occur when you first begin. They can also indicate other complications that may require medical attention.
Exercise and Cancer Treatment
Exercise is a beneficial part of a healthy lifestyle, and can be a part of your cancer treatment regimen. According to the National Cancer Institute, moderate activity for three to five hours a week may help cancer-related fatigue. Exercise can be safely done both during and after active cancer treatment. Beginning with light activity and gradually building to moderate exercises is recommended to limit fatigue. Exercise has many benefits; it can increase physical energy, improve your appetite, your ability to function, your quality of life and your sense of well-being.
Respiration and Exercise
When you exercise, your body needs more oxygen and nutrients to fuel muscles. To accommodate, your breathing rate goes up, as does your heart rate, in an effort to supply more oxygen and blood to your body. Blockages or damage to different parts of your lungs can affect your respiration rate, impeding breathing. Certain cancer treatments, like radiation and bleomycin, can impact your lungs and lead to respiration difficulty after treatment. Also, lung cancer specifically will affect how your lungs function, before, during and after treatment.
Symptoms of Respiration Difficulty
Symptoms of respiratory distress include shortness of breath, breathlessness, chest pain and pressure or wheezing. These symptoms can occur when you first begin exercising or participating in activities. With gradual acclimation, your body can become stronger and respiration difficulty can decrease. However, trouble breathing and chest pain can indicate more serious conditions; always consult your physician if you experience trouble breathing. For example, superior vena cava syndrome occurs when there is a partial blockage -- such as from a tumor -- of the vein that carries blood from the head, neck, chest and arms to the heart, leading to trouble breathing.
Care Options
Persistent symptoms, no matter how small, should be reported to your doctor. In the case of exercise and breathlessness, he may suggest you reduce the amount you exercise or alter the type of activities you engage in. Tai Chi and Qigong are very gentle exercises that use gentle, slow movements and focus on breathing, and can be beneficial during and after cancer treatment. Your doctor may also recommend elevating the head of your bed, using diuretics, bronchodilators, corticosteroids or an expectorant to help clear your airways. You may also need adjustments in your treatment or treatment for another disorder.
