Activities
The treatments you undergo for lung cancer—surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—may take their toll on your body. Surgery may leave you with a lack of strength, and the destruction of healthy cells during radiation and chemotherapy may result in extreme fatigue.
Cancer has already taken enough of your time and energy. Don’t let it steal your mobility.
Remaining active may help you do all of the following:
- Avoid the physical side effects caused by bed rest, such as decreased muscle strength and endurance
- Regain strength and mobility
- Increase your ability to perform daily activities without becoming fatigued
- Reduce anxiety and depression and improve your overall sense of well-being
Activity May Improve Fatigue During Chemotherapy
and Radiation Therapy
Although we now know that lack of physical activity in cancer patients can lead to a rapid decline of physical function, there are few published reports on the effects of exercise on patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. But there is dramatic proof of its value from a study of 62 patients scheduled to receive high-dose chemotherapy. Patients who had similar physical characteristics were assigned to one of two groups:
- The exercise group used a machine that allowed them to "bike" in bed for 30 minutes a day.
- The other group did not exercise.
Although the only differences were whether or not a group exercised, the two groups’ responses to chemotherapy were very different. Patients in the exercise group did not have any change in fatigue level compared with baseline, but the nonexercisers had significantly more fatigue. What’s more, compared with nonexercisers, the exercise group had improvements in anxiety and psychological stress.
Activities at Home
Think of activity as one possible weapon against the physical and psychological impact of lung cancer. Taking just a few extra steps every day—or doing other simple activities—can go a long way in helping you live as normal a lifestyle as possible.
Always talk to your doctor before beginning any activity or exercise program.
An activity you might want to start with is abdominal or "belly" breathing. This is one type of activity that may help to expand your lungs and increase the flow of oxygen to them. This is very important if your lung function has been reduced. Abdominal breathing may help to get rid of carbon dioxide and other toxins in the lungs and build abdominal muscles. Because this activity slows breathing and heart rate, it may also be a good way to relieve stress.
A pulmonary therapist or physical therapist can teach this and other methods to maximize breathing capacity. For a closer look at how to do abdominal breathing, as well as other activities for people with lung cancer, visit:
http://www.cancernetwork.com/journals/primary/p0011i.htm
As you add exercise or activity to your daily routine, keep these tips in mind:
- Progress slowly, from week to week, not day to day.
- Avoid overdoing it. Exercise until your muscles feel used, but not until you feel exhausted.
- Don’t get discouraged. Remember that rehabilitation takes time, but the activities you engage in may move you closer to your goal.
Warning Signs to Stop Activity
Although there are many possible health benefits to be gained from remaining active, it’s important to listen to your body when it tells you how much you can or can’t do.
Please be aware of the following symptoms and conditions. If any one of them is present, do not begin any activity. If any occur during activity, stop immediately. In either case, contact your doctor.
- Chest pain or pressure
- Irregular pulse (irregular heart rate or palpitations)
- Resting pulse higher than 100 beats a minute
- Decreased heart rate or blood pressure during increased activity
- Excessive rise in blood pressure
- Recurring leg pain or cramps
- Sudden shortness of breath, muscular weakness, or tiredness
- Vomiting or diarrhea within the previous 24 to 36 hours
- Disorientation or confusion
- Pallor (paleness) or cyanosis (bluish skin)
- Fever
Benefits Worth the Effort
Lung cancer treatment may save your life, but it also may take away some of your strength for a while. There will be times when almost any effort seems too much. If you are tempted to give up on exercise, remember the benefits of activity. Even simple activities may improve your ability to withstand the rigors of treatment, while also helping you regain the feeling of control over your life and your body.
Sources of Information
Please visit the following section of this site for additional information on activity:
Diet & Activity Overview
For more comprehensive information, visit:
Additional Resources
Knowing where to find credible and accurate information about lung cancer is an important step. The following resources may help:
Living With Lung Cancer: A Guide
for Patients and Their Families
Barbara G. Cox, David T. Carr, MD, and Eloise Harmon, MD
Triad Publishing Company
ISBN: 0937404535, 136 pages
1998
Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to
Self-Help During Cancer Treatment
A free brochure from the National Institutes of
Health, National Cancer Institute, available at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/literature/