Exercise is an important component in the prevention and management of many diseases. This includes heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer. Regular exercise has benefits that go beyond the physical. Exercising with others provides a social network and can help you deal with life's challenges. There are many forms of exercise that can help if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It is important to find the one you enjoy so that you stick with it and do it often to help in the management of your condition. In the case of breast cancer, exercise may increase your chances of survival and reduce the chances of recurrence.
Benefits
According to the American Cancer Society, "A few hours of walking or other exercise each week may help breast cancer survivors live longer, new research suggests." The research showed that women with breast cancer who exercised a few hours each week were less likely to die from the cancer than women who exercised less than one hour per week. This study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims that "Physical activity after a breast cancer diagnosis may reduce the risk of death from this disease."
Time Frame
In women who had breast cancer, benefits were gained by those who walked three to five hours each week. These women walked at a moderate pace. A moderate pace would be one in which you are not so out of breath that you are unable to answer a yes or no question, but hard enough that you cannot carry on a regular conversation. It is also equivalent to walking a 2- to 3-mph pace, which is brisk. Harvard University claims that the same benefit was achieved by women who worked out more strenuously for a shorter period of time.
Features
Exercise helps breast cancer on many levels. Harvard University states that exercise helps because it lowers hormone levels such as estrogen and progesterone, which in turn may suppress cancer growth and recurrence. "Also, exercise decreases insulin resistance, a condition linked to breast cancer, in which sugar accumulates in the blood because muscle, fat, and liver cells don't use insulin properly," the university claims. Dealing with a diagnosis such as breast cancer is tough, and exercise can help emotionally by improving mood, body image and self-esteem.
Considerations
Exercise also helps with weight loss and reduces the risk of weight gain. Obesity is known to lower the survival rate of breast cancer patients. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, ". . . high levels of prediagnostic weight and substantial weight gain throughout life can decrease survival in premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients." While more research is needed, it is possible that this link exists because of higher levels of certain hormones and steroids that are present in fat, especially in the overweight. The concern is that these hormones and steroids may support tumor growth. In their research the AACR found that "Premenopausal women who were obese 1 year before diagnosis had significantly lower survival than nonobese patients." In postmenopausal women there was twice the rate of death from breast cancer in those who were obese.
Types
Most research and findings primarily examine aerobic exercise, specifically walking. Other forms of aerobic exercise include jogging, biking, dancing, swimming and hiking. Aerobic exercise is important to help keep your weight down and lower your risk of death from breast cancer.
Breastcancer.org also recommends activities such as yoga. They claim that "Research in breast cancer patients has shown that yoga may be able to help improve physical functioning, reduce fatigue, reduce stress, improve sleep and improve quality of life." Research by the American Society of Clinical Oncology showed that in women with breast cancer who participated in bi-weekly yoga classes during their six weeks of radiation treatment showed overall improved quality of life.
Studies by the University of Rochester Medical Center found positive benefits after the practice of Tai Chi Chuan as well. This research discovered that "Tai Chi participation was better than attending a support group at helping 21 patients recover physically and emotionally from cancer diagnosis and treatment."
