Exercising With Cancer

When you first discover that you have cancer, exercise may be the last thing on your mind. The endorphin inducing activity does have the potential to become one of your highest priorities and favorite activities as you navigate your cancer journey. Janet has the right idea, use a fitness routine to strengthen and support yourself through any challenge in your life. Cancer can affect both mental and physical health so physical exercise and a balanced diet can have a huge impact on both aspects of health.

If you have not been a very active person, consider starting small and taking a short walk every day, or practicing some deep breathing exercises in your spare time. Scientific research indicates that regular exercise can stimulate the immune system, improve mood, and reduce fatigue.

Doctors suggest exercising in short burst with many breaks in between. Those just starting out may choose to gradually increase the amount of walking they do each day, rather than starting with a long run from the get go. Even those working to prevent cancer can hone in on their routines for a more effective workout with gradual interval running. Just 10 minutes of exercise a day can help people with cancer feel better on many levels. Sooner than later, you’ll be training for your first 5k in no time.

Before getting into a full routine, know your limitations. Talk to your health care provider for advice about what types of exercise may work best for you. Fatigue, treatment-related nausea, and other physical limitations for patients dealing with especially aggressive cancers, like mesothelioma or pancreatic cancer, can affect the types of exercise accessible to cancer patients but shouldn’t keep anyone back from reaching their health goals.

Here are some awesome mixes to get you motivated to start you on the road to a healthier lifestyle:

One More Time (Radio Edit) – Daft Punk

Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 Ft. Christina Aguilera

Beautiful People – Chris Brown Ft. Benny Benassi

I Can Only Imagine – David Guetta Ft. Chris Brown

Heiress of Valentina – Dúné

Underneath – DJ Antoine

You Can Be The One – Late Night Alumni

Pressure (Alesso Remix) – Nadia Ali

Blackout – Breathe Carolina

This is a guest post by Katrina Evans:

Katrina Evans is a recent college graduate aspiring to write for health and wellness resources all over the web. She enjoys making a difference in people’s lives seeing how devastating cancer can be for people and their families. Katrina also really likes to run, stay fit, and listening to cool podcasts.