Should You Exercise With Breast Cancer?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and sufferers and their supporters are wearing pink ribbons to raise awareness. With all the information about preventing cancer through healthy eating and fitness activities, it raises the question – can you exercise if you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer?

Anna Schwartz, FNP, PhD, FAAN, a professor of nursing and Healthcare Cancer Research Endowed Chair at Arizona State University who has survived non-Hodgkin lymphoma for 20 years, says that breast cancer sufferers enjoy many health benefits from the right types of fitness activities.

Schwartz states that cancer patients should start exercising as soon as they get diagnosed and should discuss options with their cancer care team. The best combination is light aerobics such as walking or weight training with light resistance.

Low intensity exercise should be done every other day for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the stamina of the patient. High intensity exercise and working up a sweat is not necessary for breast cancer patients to achieve physical, mental and emotional benefits from fitness activity.

According to Schwartz, "People who start slowly and don’t overextend...feel better right away. You usually feel benefits in the first or second session. Particularly emotionally -- it makes you just feel better about life. When people start to feel better, it makes them want to keep exercising."

Although it may seem like a difficult time to take it on, breast cancer sufferers will appreciate improved health and perspective when they make the effort to lightly exercise during their treatment.

(check with your physician before following this advice)