Activity and Exercise
Whether you are already very active or you are keen to start, a new diagnosis of cancer can leave you with questions about how active you should be and what kind of activities or exercises you should do.
In general, physical activity is safe and has many benefits such as boosting your mood, reducing tiredness and improving your quality of sleep. It can help you to build strength and continue to do the things which are important to you.
Unless you have been told by a health care professional to avoid certain activities, it is generally safe to be physically active.
There may be days you don’t feel like being active, and it is important to listen to your body. If you are fighting an infection, running a temperature, or experiencing severe fatigue you should rest. Otherwise, ease off a little with shorter periods of activity or more gentle activities. If easing off still doesn’t help then speak to a member of your care team.
Starting exercise can be scary and intimidating but it doesn’t need to be. Lots of us have bad memories of PE or gym at school, but any physical activity that you enjoy, like walking, swimming or gardening will help build your fitness.
The idea is to keep moving for longer periods of time. By staring slowly at a pace you can manage and building up slowly, you will be able to do more over time.
If you feel you would like more support ask your GP or hospital care team about being referred to local support and advice groups or gyms if this hasn’t already happened for you.
Yes. Being more active is known to help a wide range of health conditions. Even with long-standing issues such as back pain, physical activity can be safe and help to ease your symptoms. But, if you have specific concerns or think it would help to get support or advice, a physiotherapist, gym instructor or your care teams should be able to help.
Worry is natural but perhaps this website will help to explain why being active is helpful.
Go for a walk or a bike ride together may also help them see that you are safe & being active is helping you. This time with your family might also help them to manage any worries they have.
That’s ok. There will be days where you just feel too tired. But even on those days, small amounts of gentle activity will help you feel less tired overall. Even if this activity is just a walk around the room occasionally, or a short walk to the end of the road, it’s still activity and is still good for you. When you are feeling well enough, try to build up to 5 to 10 minutes at a time, setting goals to help with motivation.
But remember, if you feel unwell, or sore, then slow down or stop. If you are fighting an infection, running a temperature, or experiencing severe fatigue, then you should rest.
Wellbeing
The news of a cancer diagnosis is an extremely difficult time for both patients and their suppoters. It can bring about many psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical challenges and these challenges can feel overwhelming. The Macmillan booklet ‘How are you feeling? The emotional effects of cancer’ offers guidance to anyone who may feel lonely or isolated following a cancer diagnosis. To access the booklet click here
In general, physical activity is safe and has many benefits such as boosting your mood, reducing tiredness and improving your quality of sleep. It can help you to build strength and continue to do the things which are important to you.
Unless you have been told by a health care professional to avoid certain activities, it is generally safe to be physically active.
There may be days you don’t feel like being active, and it is important to listen to your body. If you are fighting an infection, running a temperature, or experiencing severe fatigue you should rest. Otherwise, ease off a little with shorter periods of activity or more gentle activities. If easing off still doesn’t help then speak to a member of your care team.
Starting exercise can be scary and intimidating but it doesn’t need to be. Lots of us have bad memories of PE or gym at school, but any physical activity that you enjoy, like walking, swimming or gardening will help build your fitness.
The idea is to keep moving for longer periods of time. By staring slowly at a pace you can manage and building up slowly, you will be able to do more over time.
If you feel you would like more support ask your GP or hospital care team about being referred to local support and advice groups or gyms if this hasn’t already happened for you.
Yes. Being more active is known to help a wide range of health conditions. Even with long-standing issues such as back pain, physical activity can be safe and help to ease your symptoms. But, if you have specific concerns or think it would help to get support or advice, a physiotherapist, gym instructor or your care teams should be able to help.
Worry is natural but perhaps this website will help to explain why being active is helpful.
Go for a walk or a bike ride together may also help them see that you are safe & being active is helping you. This time with your family might also help them to manage any worries they have.
That’s ok. There will be days where you just feel too tired. But even on those days, small amounts of gentle activity will help you feel less tired overall. Even if this activity is just a walk around the room occasionally, or a short walk to the end of the road, it’s still activity and is still good for you. When you are feeling well enough, try to build up to 5 to 10 minutes at a time, setting goals to help with motivation.
But remember, if you feel unwell, or sore, then slow down or stop. If you are fighting an infection, running a temperature, or experiencing severe fatigue, then you should rest.
Diet and Nutrition
It is understandable that many people will try to fight cancer or reduce treatment side effects through changing their diet. However, if you, or a relative or friend are planning this, it is important to know if you are making the right or wrong changes. The following questions and answers (recreated with kind permission from the BDA Oncology Group) should help you to make informed decisions.
In general, physical activity is safe and has many benefits such as boosting your mood, reducing tiredness and improving your quality of sleep. It can help you to build strength and continue to do the things which are important to you.
Unless you have been told by a health care professional to avoid certain activities, it is generally safe to be physically active.
There may be days you don’t feel like being active, and it is important to listen to your body. If you are fighting an infection, running a temperature, or experiencing severe fatigue you should rest. Otherwise, ease off a little with shorter periods of activity or more gentle activities. If easing off still doesn’t help then speak to a member of your care team.
Starting exercise can be scary and intimidating but it doesn’t need to be. Lots of us have bad memories of PE or gym at school, but any physical activity that you enjoy, like walking, swimming or gardening will help build your fitness.
The idea is to keep moving for longer periods of time. By staring slowly at a pace you can manage and building up slowly, you will be able to do more over time.
If you feel you would like more support ask your GP or hospital care team about being referred to local support and advice groups or gyms if this hasn’t already happened for you.
Yes. Being more active is known to help a wide range of health conditions. Even with long-standing issues such as back pain, physical activity can be safe and help to ease your symptoms. But, if you have specific concerns or think it would help to get support or advice, a physiotherapist, gym instructor or your care teams should be able to help.
Worry is natural but perhaps this website will help to explain why being active is helpful.
Go for a walk or a bike ride together may also help them see that you are safe & being active is helping you. This time with your family might also help them to manage any worries they have.
That’s ok. There will be days where you just feel too tired. But even on those days, small amounts of gentle activity will help you feel less tired overall. Even if this activity is just a walk around the room occasionally, or a short walk to the end of the road, it’s still activity and is still good for you. When you are feeling well enough, try to build up to 5 to 10 minutes at a time, setting goals to help with motivation.
But remember, if you feel unwell, or sore, then slow down or stop. If you are fighting an infection, running a temperature, or experiencing severe fatigue, then you should rest.