Guest Blogger: Melanie Bowen
Melanie Bowen is currently a Master’s student with a passion that stems from her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis. She often highlights the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. In her spare time, you can find Melanie trying new vegan recipes, on her yoga mat, or spending time with her family.
Cancer is a difficult disease that largely affects a person’s life. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are currently going through treatment, or are in remission, it’s vital that you take care of your body. No matter what the cancer, whether it’s mesothelioma, melanoma, or any other type, a fit body is able to more effectively fight cancer. There is a long list of benefits fitness provides for people dealing with cancer.
Fitness Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Physical fitness has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of cancer. It also can help reduce the chance of cancer recurring again for anyone in remission. Exercise can lower your risk of getting breast, prostate, and colon cancer, to name a few. Amazingly, the chance of getting colon cancer is reduced by half because of the positive effects of regular exercise.
For anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, fitness will help reduce the chance of dying by a significant percentage; therefore it is important to start getting active on a regular basis.
Fitness Alleviates Negative Side Effects
Cancer, and the medications and treatments used to cure it, can cause a number of negative side effects. Another benefit of exercise is its ability to help reduce the severity of many of these side effects. Exercising can help prevent heart disease, loss of bone mass, and it can also provide people with increased amounts of energy to combat fatigue.
Cancer can cause feelings of depression and sadness in those dealing with the disease. Exercise has been shown to improve a person’s mood through the release of endorphins. Being physically fit can also help alleviate depression and negative moods through an improved self-image.
Doctors used to advise that patients should rest and relax after treatment. Today, this advice is changing because of the findings of recent studies detailing the many benefits of exercise. It helps a person to be much healthier and happier. The healthier you are, the more successfully your body can fight cancer. Aerobic activities such as swimming, walking, or jogging for several minutes each day can do wonders for your body.
Although exercise is not guaranteed to cure any cancer, it can help immensely in many ways. From reducing the possibility of a fatality to boosting the immune system and lowering the chance of cancer returning, physical fitness is key to beating cancer and living a healthy, wonderful life. With proper exercise, a good prognosis is much more likely.