As a mesothelioma patient it is important to keep your body strong before, during, and after treatment. One of the best ways to do this is by exercising.
How Exercising Helps
Exercising might be difficult for a mesothelioma patient. This difficulty will vary depending on the type of treatment they are experiencing.The stage of their disease can also limit their physical abilities too.
Treatments such a chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can cause a patient to feel weakened and fatigued. However, exercising can be very beneficial during recovery.
Exercising helps by
- Improving physical abilities
- Strengthening muscles
- Improving balance
- Lessening nausea
- Improving blood flow
Some studies even suggest that exercising can help reduce the risk of cancer from either developing or recurring. It is recommended that a patient speaks with their doctor about what exercises are best for them.
During and After Treatment Exercising
According to health experts, cancer patients should engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. In some cases, a mesothelioma patient may not be able to do this because of the side effects they’re experiencing from treatment.
Instead, patients can break that 30 minutes into 3 sets of 10 minutes. By pacing themselves, this allows them to receive the recommended amount of exercise throughout different times of the day.
Some important things to remember when exercising
- Dress comfortably
- Drink plenty of water
- Breathe normally
- Warm up with gentle movements
- Don’t workout if you aren’t feeling good or if you’re running a fever
- Know your body’s limitations and don’t push them
To make exercising more enjoyable, a patient can recruit a friend or loved one to be their workout buddy. There are also programs offered by health clubs and hospitals that are specifically designed for cancer patients.
4 Exercising Methods
What exercises a patient can endure is going to vary from individual to individual. Factors such as disease, treatment, and stamina can affect a person’s ability. Starting to exercise may be difficult at first, but it is important that patients pace themselves and don’t give up.
Here are 4 areas of exercising that health experts suggest that patients focus on.
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1
Aerobics
Aerobics not only helps a person feel better, but it helps keep a patient’s body strong before, during, and after treatment. Participating in physical activity as simple as walking or running can help get the heart rate up. It is suggested that an individual rotates aerobic style workouts and strength building exercises. Doing this will help the patient to increase their muscles and their metabolism.
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2
Strength
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3
Balance
The drugs that are used during mesothelioma treatment can cause a patient to have poor balance, which makes it very easy for them to fall. By participating in balancing exercises, fall-related injuries can be avoided. Simple movements used in yoga and tai chi can help improve balance and the body’s range of motion. Exercises such as one leg stands or placing one foot in front of the other can also help.
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4
Stretching
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Sources & Author
About the Writer, Devin Golden
Devin Golden is the content writer for Mesothelioma Guide. He produces mesothelioma-related content on various mediums, including the Mesothelioma Guide website and social media channels. Devin's objective is to translate complex information regarding mesothelioma into informative, easily absorbable content to help patients and their loved ones.