Eleanor Nattrass at The ExerScience Clinic explains how the guidelines for exercising after a cancer diagnosis are being turned on their head.
“In fact, if the health benefits of exercise could be harnessed in a pill, it would be the most widely prescribed medicine for everyone, everywhere. It would be hailed as a major breakthrough in medical treatment. Even for cancer.
“Historically, a cancer diagnosis was accompanied with recommendations to rest − but in fact this can be counter-intuitive as being inactive while undergoing treatments for cancer can mean rapid physical deconditioning.”
Eleanor and her team are Clinical Exercise Physiologists - a new breed of exercise specialists who are tertiary qualified and clinically trained to work specifically with chronic health conditions. The aim? “To help people move from a state of chronic illness toward better health and greater independence through appropriately prescribed and monitored exercise.”
Australian research on post-diagnosis exercise has been so compelling that the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) now acknowledges that exercise is a safe and effective adjunct intervention to counteract many of the negative physical and psychological effects of cancer and its associated treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapies).
COSA is calling for exercise to be embedded as part of standard practice in cancer care, encouraging all health professionals to promote physical activity and to refer through to a clinical exercise specialist.
“In addition to standard medical treatments, higher levels of exercise in the most commonly studied cancers (breast, colorectal and prostate) have been shown to reduce risk of death by 28-44% as well as reduce their risk of cancer recurring by 21-35%.”
And the health benefits go further than improved survival. “Even cancer-related fatigue is less severe in those who exercise during and post-treatment. Exercise is now being advocated even for those with advanced cancer to improve their quality of life and retain their physical independence as long as possible.”
Meet Britt Chambers. Late last year after six years of misdiagnosis, Britt was diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer. As an international triathlete, Britt has always been fit and active. Having been told there is no cure for her cancer, Britt turned to exercise to regain control over her body and to help with her chemotherapy. “The fitter and healthier you can be the better you can handle the diagnosis and treatment of chemotherapy. I’m so lucky to have had ExerScience's knowledge, experience and help to guide me through this experience thus far,” says Britt.
Britt is taking on the Coast to Coast in 2019 to raise awareness for bowel cancer. If you would like to donate to Britt's campaign, please visit her Give a Little page. If there is someone you know living with a chronic health condition, get in touch with The ExerScience Clinic to see how they are able to help out.
“It’s about living better - and taking control of the hand you’ve been dealt,” says Eleanor.
THE EXERSCIENCE CLINIC, 8 Nugent Street, T: 09 393 8500, www.exerscience.co.nz