Staying active as a lung cancer patient
What can ALKies do to stay active and improve their fitness? Read on for advice for every fitness level.
Recommending regular physical activity has always been part of a doctor’s advice to every healthy adult since the 1970s. At that time, a push for intermediate/high intensity exercise to increase cardiovascular training was emphasized by athletes. By the mid 1990s, a new mindset had emerged. To be healthy, one needs to be doing moderate exercise for 30 minutes five times per week. Current recommendations have changed to moderate levels of activity for 150 minutes per week to achieve substantial benefit.
We have been told and drilled with these recommendations our whole lives.
But, that is for REGULAR folks. What about us? We are special, we are unique, and we are ALK patients!
The general guidelines from the American Cancer Society and the Mayo Clinic state that staying active is beneficial. In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, exercise can have psychological benefits, improve mood, increase self-esteem, lower anxiety, and reduce stress.
One very common side effect for us is fatigue. It takes extra mental strength just to fight through to be more functional, not to even mention the word “exercise”! I hear you and I agree with you. But remember, a brisk walk in the afternoon is a great form of exercise. It does not have to be the traditional gym workout with dumb bells and reps! There are so many ways in which ALKies can try to stay active. Just a short list of what is done by fellow Alkies:
- Walking kids to school
- Chair yoga (with our ALKtALK program)
- Walking around the neighborhood
- Qi-chong
- Fitness/cardio
- Pilates/Yoga
However, there are times when you may need a doctor’s consent to start a more active regime, such as:
- If you have anemia
- If you’ve had radiation to your chest that may cause shortness of breath
- If you have irregular sodium or potassium levels
You may need to modify your physical activity depending on how you feel. It is okay NOT to exercise if you are feeling unwell. A good stretch or house chores counts for me! Just try to move around.
Like anything, always start slow and gradually work your way up. Keep it fun and enjoyable. Getting a partner may help. When you are ready, an increase in strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness can help in the long run.
https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/appendix-1/
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/exercise-to-ease-your-mind.html
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/eat-healthy-get-active/get-active/make-exercise-work-for-you.html
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470658/
Author: Alice Chou