Can I exercise after a cancer diagnosis?
Exercise is essential for cancer survivorship.
Exercise is safe and possible even after a cancer diagnosis.
So, yes, you should exercise.
But safely.
When exercise is not done properly, it can do more harm than good.
And, in certain cases, exercise should be avoided completely until cleared again.
Therefore in this blog, you will learn the nuances of exercising after a cancer diagnosis.
You will learn:
What exercises to avoid and when
What questions to ask your oncologist regarding exercise
And what exercises to focus on during cancer treatment
Because when it comes to exercise your routine will depend on your cancer stage, goals, side effects, and medical history.
Disclaimer: Always ask the oncologist you’re currently receiving treatment from—i.e. if you’ve just had surgery, ask your surgical oncologist; if you are in radiation, ask your radiation oncologist. And for a second opinion, ask your main specialized oncologist.
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🤔 Are there any exercises you should avoid?
Many medications have longer-lasting, more severe side effects than others.
So, it is important to ask your oncologist whether exercise is right for you.
Exercise is safe, but you should still aware when you should stop exercising or call your health care provider.
During treatment, it is important that your routine is safe.
Safe = monitoring how you feel, knowing when to exercise, and knowing how your body should respond & should not respond.
You Should:
Feel more energy
Feel muscles working
Feel heart rate slowly increase and come back down
Feel slightly out of breath
You Should Not Feel:
“Ouch” kind of pain
Dizzy, light-headed, headaches
Dull chest pain or tingling on arms, back/jaw
Like it is hard to breathe in
However, even when you are taking good care of your body, there are times when exercise should be avoided.
Be sure to talk to your oncologist to know what exercises to avoid.
Your oncologist will know what side effects the cancer treatment has on your body and will be able to guide you on what exercises to avoid.
For example, in cases of:
Bone metastasis | Weight training ❌
Blood sugar below 100 | Exercise ❌ until blood sugar is >100
Blood sugar above 300 | Exercise ❌
Uncontrolled heart rate | Cardio ❌
Low blood count | High intensity exercise ❌
(Key= ❌ Not Recommended)
🤕 What exercises can I do until I am fully cleared to workout?
The second question to ask your oncologist about exercise is what exercises you can do while you are recovering.
After surgery, most surgical oncologists will want you to wait 6-8 weeks.
However, you may be able to start with physical therapy, mobility exercises, and gentle stretches sooner.
Your surgical oncologist is often looking for your skin to heal properly and to avoid infection at the surgical site.
So, once the skin is fully healed, you can start exercising.
Remember, just because you had surgery does not mean walking is not recommended.
In fact, in many cases, maintaining a walking routine after surgery can help you:
Prevent blood clots.
Recover faster
Reduce neuropathy from chemotherapy
Even after open heart surgery, you can start walking 2-5 days after surgery.
Walking is almost always recommended, and often, a doctor is not going to tell you not to walk.
Going for a light walk is almost always a great form of exercise after surgery - even after pelvic or abdominal surgery.
⚡️Are you cleared to do high-intensity exercise?
High-intensity exercise is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer tool.
But it can also have adverse effects.
And you should be mindful to avoid high-intensity exercise when you:
are sleep-deprived
have osteoarthritis
are immunocompromised
have uncontrolled heart rate
have not been exercising consistently
Other than those cases, you can perform high-intensity exercise, but make sure you are cleared by your oncologist first.
If you want to incorporate more high-intensity workouts, ask your cancer exercise specialist which forms of high-intensity exercise are right for you.
Your cancer exercise specialist can create a routine:
According to your body type and surgeries so that you don’t feel any strains or pain
That is focused on your cancer treatment so you can manage the side effects
Tailored to your schedule and preferences so you don’t have to spend more time at the gym and can spend more time with your family.
If you do not currently have a cancer exercise specialist that you are working with and would like to get a tailored exercise program, click the link below.
Is there a heart rate range you should stay within?
As a cancer survivor, you are at greater risk for heart disease.
So, knowing if you have a limit on your heart rate is important, as some medications can be toxic to the heart, lungs, and liver.
Regardless, exercise at light-to-moderate intensity is almost always still highly encouraged.
Even in cases of heart/lung toxicity or risk of heart disease, cardio is still highly encouraged.
Keep in mind, if you have any arrhythmias or have had any previous heart issues, asking for a heart rate limit may be a question for your cardiologist.
In some cases, your doctor may not give you a limit on heart rate, but they might want you to stick to lifting weights or other exercises that do not maintain an elevated heart rate.
Disclaimers and Final Advice on Exercising During & After Treatment
Some days, you will be able to jump straight into your routine.
Other days, you will need to slow it down and adjust your routine.
Regardless exercise is safe, effective, and feasible.
But always check with your provider first if you have any of the following:
Heart or lung disease
Weak bones or bone metastases (cancer that has spread to the bones)
If you have any of the above you might need some guidance.
Disclaimer: Your oncologist is not an expert in exercise oncology. So, they may not have all the answers to your questions.
For more specific questions regarding what exercises to do, ask your exercise physiologist or cancer exercise specialist.
Having a cancer exercise specialist on your team is just as important as having a good oncologist.
Your oncologist is responsible for clearing you for exercise.
But your cancer exercise specialist is responsible for keeping you safe, guiding you through exercise, and keeping you motivated.
If you are ready to get started on your exercise journey after cancer, apply for 1:1 cancer exercise training here, where you will get a comprehensive health and physical assessment consult, along with an exercise prescription and access to your own cancer exercise specialist.
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