Women should aim for half an hour’s gentle exercise three times a week to aid their recovery from breast cancer, according to early results revealed at a University of Bristol conference on Exercise and Cancer Rehabilitation today.
Currently the standard treatment for breast cancer involves no exercise therapy. However, the initial findings from a Cancer Research UK trial has shown that exercise therapy and lifestyle counselling could hasten recovery and improve the long-term physical and mental well being of women who are recovering from breast cancer.
As more women undergo successful treatment for breast cancer, many are experiencing ongoing side effects after their treatment. These long term physical side effects can include weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, loss of muscle tone, reduced flexibility and loss of libido. These physical symptoms can then lead to feelings of low self esteem, depression, anxiety or lack of confidence.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer for women in the UK, with nearly 41,000 new cases in the UK every year. This accounts for almost one in three of all cancer cases in women.
Launched in late 2002 the trial is designed to follow over 150 women, randomly divided into three separate groups, through an eight week programme.
The first group took part in an exercise programme designed to suit their physical ability. At each session an exercise therapist also works with the women to support and encourage them to include more physical activity into their daily lives. The second group followed a body conditioning programme but were given no encouragement to do more physical activity, while the third were offered only currently available standard treatment.
After the eight weeks, the women were monitored at three and six months to see whether they continued with their routines and how they rated their health and wellbeing. Those women who took part in the fully tailored exercise plan showed the most positive results, reporting lower depression, an increases satisfaction with their lives and a reduction in their weight.
Standard treatment for breast cancer involves no exercise therapy and side effects related to breast cancer and its treatment are dealt with on an individual basis by a woman’s GP.