Exercise is the best medicine after surgery or cancer treatment. Introducing a new field of study "Exercise Oncology Research".

[AussieNeil]

The exercise clinic is actually co-located with the chemotherapy or radiation therapy wards at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, because it makes treatment and recovery more effective. In 2005, a review of all papers up to that time turned up 24 studies in the whole world which had looked at exercise in cancer patients. Now there are literally hundreds of very solid research papers on this topic.

Robert Newton, director of the Exercise Medicine Research Institute at Edith Cowan University says "It's interesting though that there are around 10 or 11 potential mechanisms by which exercise actually suppresses tumour growth. So we know that people, if they become physically active or they stay physically active post their diagnosis of cancer, they are much more likely to survive. And that benefit is somewhere between 50% and perhaps 80% benefit, so in other words you more than double your chances of surviving your cancer."

While not CLL specific, as Robert Newton concludes: "The consistent message across all the cancer consensus statements…so this is the American Cancer Society for example, which is one of the leading authorities in the world in oncology, and their clear message is to avoid a rest strategy, that people with cancer need to be active on most if not every day and they need to try and meet the minimum guidelines. And any form of physical activity is better than adopting a sedentary lifestyle. If you actually adopt a sedentary lifestyle because of your cancer and its treatment, then your quality of life will be more impacted, and your health will be worse, and in fact you are much less likely to survive your cancer."

and

"Certainly we know that in terms of chemotherapy, if you are physically active, if you exercise, then you are much more likely to tolerate treatment, you're much more likely to complete the full course of treatment, which of course means your survival chances are greatly enhanced, but you will experience much less of the side effects of chemotherapy, in particular the overwhelming fatigue and nausea that is associated with chemotherapy. We know that people who exercise through their chemotherapy have a much better time of it."

Transcript

abc.net.au/radionational/pr...

Podcast

mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/pod...

See also Exercise can improve cancer recovery and reduce health-care costs: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Neil

[Kwenda]

Exercise is good at any time.. Before, during and after treatment(s).

I have proved that exercise significantly slows the increase of lymphocytes with CLL.

I can almost keep my lymphocyte count stable by strong exercise.

The counts being stable in the summer with outdoor activities, and a slight rise in winter when the exercise becomes mostly gym visits or the home cycling/spinning machine.

It is good to see that universities are taking up this kind of research. The drug companies not being interested since there is no profit in it for them.

Hopefully more universities will follow up and promote this even more.

Dick

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Could not agree more... I reversed my ALC for nearly 3 years, and was much better shape for the treatment that followed... 12 months of treatment...

I doubt I would be posting this without the benefits of exercise...

~chris

[jangreen]

Hi this simply puts into scientific terms what many ordinary people have said for years. To get out into the open air especially with others increases your quality of life. Best wishes

[kathypawpaw]

I like to go camping. When you get out there with nature all around you you can feel your whole body just relax! It's hard to unplug these days and it is amazing how much you can get out of a day when you just slow down and savor the beauty all around.

Kathy

[Hidden]

Initially I was told to avoid strenuous exercise - my consultant thought I was due for imminent treatment. However, my extremely high WBC (around 350) has remained stable since diagnosis in May 2014, so I have gradually upped my exercise to include longer walks (up to about 12 miles) and some hill walking/scrambling. I also maintain a large vegetable garden. I bought a pedometer to try and achieve at least 10,000 steps a day and it also tells me when I have been inactive for too long. I don't go swimming in public pools or attend exercise classes now. Are there any exercises which members recommend, or warn against for someone on W & W? I wondered whether I should be doing twisting movements, or use a hula hoop, bearing in mind a slightly enlarged spleen? Ditto cycling (i live in a very hilly area). I am coming up to 69.

Maggie B

[Kwenda in reply to Hidden]

It is well understood that some exercises are more likely to produce injuries to the joints and bones. These are impact exercises with sudden jerky movements. Thus running on hard surfaces such as pavements or roads is hard on the knees. Tennis is another exercise with sudden jerky movements.

However cycling and swimming are both good exercises but with smooth movements that do not cause any impact injuries.

Cycling can be done all year round with outdoor cycling in summer and indoors on a 'spinning bicycle' in winter. Most gyms have spinning classes or for less money buy your own exercise bike.. I sit on mine and watch a television in winter.

Swimming in the ocean in summer, in winter find a well maintained clean pool and shower well afterwards.

Dick

[Hidden in reply to Kwenda]

Thanks Dick, that is helpful advice. I never did enjoy tennis anyway. We already have an exercise bicycle, so no excuses there! I just wish our seas were warm enough to swim in - I will have to get a wet suit!

[Kwenda in reply to Hidden]

For more on exercise the Wikipedia article is good.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerob...

snip:-

‘New research on the endocrine functions of contracting muscles has shown that both aerobic and anaerobic exercise promote the secretion of myokines, with attendant benefits including growth of new tissue, tissue repair, and various anti-inflammatory functions, which in turn reduce the risk of developing various inflammatory diseases. Myokine secretion in turn is dependent on the amount of muscle contracted, and the duration and intensity of contraction. As such, both types of exercise produce endocrine benefits.’

Read towards the bottom of the article for a list of exercises:

Also:-

Among the recognized benefits of doing regular aerobic exercise are:-

1)Strengthening the muscles involved in respiration, to facilitate the flow of air in and out of the lungs

2)Strengthening and enlarging the heart muscle, to improve its pumping efficiency and reduce the resting heart rate, known as aerobic conditioning

3)Improving circulation efficiency and reducing blood pressure

4)Increasing the total number of red blood cells in the body, facilitating transport of oxygen

5)Neurobiological effects: improvements in brain structural connections and increased gray matter density, new neuron growth, improved cognitive function (cognitive control and various forms of memory).

I like number 4)… More red blood cells always good..  

Number 5) can be useful also.!!

Dick

[Hidden in reply to Kwenda]

This is very encouraging. I will print this off and put it on the fridge as a daily reminder.

[Kwenda]

Robert Newton, director of the Exercise Medicine Research Institute at Edith Cowan University was being interviewed on this radio program and the podcast is well worth a listen.

Robert Newton has also done extensive research into the subject of exercise and published various papers. I provide a link below to his web page at his university where all these publications are listed.

The link for extra web pages:-

ecuhealthwellnessinstitute....

Dick