Given exercise can be harder for some of us due to additional fatigue and illness challenges, I found this report from a local university rather encouraging:
w3.unisa.edu.au/unisanews/2...
Other studies have shown that improved fitness helps us cope better with chemotherapy.
Neil
Thanks for the article Neil. Macmillan have prepared extensive information for us on the benefits of activity and living with cancer. I have pasted several videos and links below that explain.
It is difficult as we may be restricted in what we can do because we may be anemic, undergoing and recovering from treatment or suffering other issues, always check with your medic. I was an active builder three years ago and was fooled by a stroke, the early onset of arthritis and a diagnosis of CLL in the same year into living a more sedentary lifestyle as finding a way to comfortably remain active was difficult. Unfortunately increasing fatigue that was put down to CLL was masking developing heart disease, this culminated in heart attacks last year, I had developed heart disease. In recovery this brought about the need to work through some of my difficulties to improve my general health. Balancing my diet and activity has had great effect and is better helping me live with CLL and other issues together... The information below may be helpful to many.
In the first video below a patient with the HCL a kissing cousin of CLL is able to explain how physical activity helped him after treatment.
Physical activity and cancer
youtube.com/watch?v=ZRP_hiw...
The Macmillan range of further physical activity videos and cancer.
youtube.com/playlist?list=P...
Patient Information sections:
Physical activity during and after cancer treatment
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
The benefits of being active during and after cancer treatment
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
What is physical activity?
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
Who can help with physical activity?
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
What activities are available near you?
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
Physical activity and advanced cancer
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
Being safe and physical activity
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
Getting started with physical activity
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...
Macmillan references
• American College of Sports Medicine. Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2010. 42: 1409–1426.
• Feuerstein, M. Handbook of Cancer Survivorship. 2007. Springer.
• Irwin ML. Physical activity interventions for cancer survivors. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2009. 43: 32–38
• Thomas R, et al. Lifestyle and Exercise after Cancer. An Evidence Review for the Self-Management Work stream of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative. 2010.
Content last reviewed: 1 January 2012
Wow Hairbear, that's a comprehensive reply! You've certainly had a tough few years health-wise and it is great to see how much you've benefited from exercise. Thanks for passing on your experiences!
The video by Dr Anna Campbell's explaining the outcomes of her 10 years of experience on the benefits of exercise for cancer patients is excellent. I think it was her research that I'd heard about previously. Great to see how incidental exercise is encouraged in the video too. We don't necessarily have to go to the gym or for a run; just look for small exercise opportunities during the day, like taking the stairs instead of a lift, or carrying the groceries to a car park that is further away from the shop entrance rather than wasting time driving around to find a park closer to the entrance. I find it rather bemusing that all the labour and time saving devices we've developed may actually be costing us in health and lifespan...
Your experience with the symptoms of CLL masking another serious illness is very relevant to all of us. While we need to be aware that CLL can predispose us to other health complications and a higher risk of some secondary cancers, not every health problem we have is necessarily related to our CLL diagnosis! In other words, we are just as likely as the rest of the population to have the usual health complications, but overlaid on this, we may have health problems arising from the impact of CLL on our body.
Neil
Hi As a leader for Walk for Health I can only hope to promote the benefits of walking. Walking is free you don't need any special equipment or expensive gym membership. Please try one out.
And here's an opposing viewpoint, arguing that it is dangerous to believe you can safely be fat AND fit
Fat and fit? There’s no such thing for most people
theconversation.com/fat-and...
That link takes me into an article about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in combat soldiers Neil. (Which is how my back was left feeling after thoroughly overdoing the walking on holiday).
Guilt and a desire to get fit made me over stretch myself and I'm suffering now. Plus I've had a telling off from my GP so check with your doctor before throwing yourself into physical activity. Especially if you have pre-existing joint problems as well as CLL.
Newdawn
Fixed thanks Newdawn - I'd lost the end digit.
Sorry to hear that for you, asking forgiveness rather than asking permission didn't work 
Great to know that you did enjoy your holiday though - but now you need a holiday to recover from your holiday!!
I've long been sold on the benefits of exercise, however you choose to do it. Really good to see it receiving this prominence.
If you are obese and lacking energy and there is no physical reason to stop you doing some kind of exercise, do diet sensibly and get moving, you will soon see the benefit.
This reply does not include any of our community who due to their CLL and other ilnessess are not capable of it.
Good luck everyone
I rather like the idea of incidental exercise to help with fitness. Fitness for the unenthusiastic (was going to say lazy but why should I own up to that).
For years I've taken the stairs instead of lifts if practical.
I park my car at the far end the carpark when going to stores, much to the annoyance of other family members, prmarily to aviod the 'couldnt care less I banged my door against your car' brigade.
I walk up escalators, if not blocked by others and walk on moving walkways (mainly found in airports I think). Helps with fitness and saves time. Bingo!
Any other ideas?
Rob
Gee Rob! for a minute there I thought you were my partner, we always park at the furthest end of the car park for the same reason as you do, plus benefit of incidental exercise. While we aimed to lose a lot of weight we would never take the car if our destination was in reasonable walking distance. Much easier to do in the summer though.
My favourite is some loud disco music and bopping around to that, I have to make sure I am alone though as it's not always a pretty sight, but it is fun!
Bub
It's like they say Bub,
'Doesn't matter how slow you go,
You're still lapping everyone on the couch!' 
Newdawn
Why the Weight Loss?
Research needed for vaxx/CLL
Dramatic weight loss on imbruvica
