Sports guide for former cancer survivors & bull; hello healthy

People who have recovered from cancer and have finished undergoing treatment do not mean they are free to do anything without risk. Ex-cancer sufferers must take various precautions and recommendations to prevent recurrence of the disease and maintain their overall condition, one of which is by exercising.

However, until now many people think that former cancer sufferers should not be exhausted so that their physical activity is limited. In fact, regular exercise is very beneficial for former cancer sufferers.

Then, what are the benefits of exercise for former cancer sufferers? What types of exercise are good for former cancer sufferers? Is the exercise that ex-cancer survivors do the same as other healthy people?

Benefits of exercise for former cancer sufferers

Exercise allows cancer survivors to live a normal life again

A former cancer patient who has successfully passed cancer treatment, of course, wants to live a normal life and continue working or school as before he was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer treatment does keep them from the disease. However, there are various kinds of side effects that cause their quality of life to decline, such as fatigue, decreased ability, and physical strength.

Even so, former cancer sufferers need to do physical activity even in a light intensity. By doing physical activity, cancer survivors can restore the strength and muscle mass lost during treatment, return to normal body functions, and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Reduces stress, makes a happy mood, and forgets memories about cancer

Almost all cancer survivors have great fear and anxiety about the recurrence that might occur. This can leave them stressed, emotionally unstable, and afraid all day long. However, by doing regular exercise, their attention and thoughts about relapse will be diverted.

Not only that, exercise can also be a good stimulation or motivation stimulant to continue to maintain a healthy body and keep cancer survivors away from negative thoughts.

Exercise can increase a person's immunity

Most former cancer sufferers have a low immune system due to undergoing various cancer treatments. One thing that can restore the immune system to normal is by doing regular exercise.

This has even been proven by research which says that former breast cancer sufferers who exercise regularly are more resistant to various diseases than cancer survivors who do not exercise.

Can former cancer sufferers do sports like other healthy people?

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), former cancer sufferers are advised not to be passive and do physical activity according to their respective abilities. Lack of physical activity in former cancer sufferers actually makes the risk of experiencing degenerative diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and heart attack even greater.

Cancer survivors aged 18-64 years are advised to do 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.

If you feel tired and don't want to do sports, then that is understandable and it is better not to exercise. The physical abilities of former cancer sufferers are indeed different from healthy people. Their cancer treatment has indeed affected their physical health. Therefore, the most important thing is to avoid a sedentary and passive lifestyle throughout the day. Doing light exercise for a short period of time can help them recover quickly.

What types of exercise are recommended for cancer survivors?

The type of exercise recommended for former sufferers is actually the same as for other healthy people, namely sports with moderate intensity and heavy intensity. The characteristic of moderate intensity exercise is if the activity can be done while talking but cannot be done while singing. Example:

• Volleyball, baseball, or sports that involve catching and throwing a ball
• Tennis
• Take a leisurely walk
• Doing gardening activities

While sports that make us only be able to say a few words without stopping to take a breath, include sports that are high or heavy in intensity, such as:

• Aerobics
• Cycling at a speed of 16 km per hour
• Mountain climbing
• Jogging
• Swimming
• Karate, taekwondo, silat, and so on
• Jump rope

What should be considered when exercising?

Actually, former cancer sufferers have various health risks, such as the occurrence of cancer recurrence, or other degenerative diseases caused by the side effects of treatment. Here are some things that former cancer sufferers should watch out for and pay attention to when doing sports:

• Former cancer sufferers who are anemic should not do sports and strenuous physical activity until their condition has recovered.
• Former cancer patients who have a low immune system are advised not to do sports using public facilities, such as the gym and swimming in the public pool.
• Former cancer survivors who have had spinal cord transplants should avoid exercising at the gym and swimming pools for at least one year after the transplant.
• Cancer survivors who experience decreased physical abilities as a result of treatment are encouraged to do 10 minutes of moderate exercise every day.
• Former cancer patients who experience ataxia - a disease caused by damage to nerve cells in the cerebellum - as a result of treatment, are not allowed to cycle, run, walk long distances, and treadmill . People who suffer from ataxia do not have good balance skills so they fall easily and become weak.

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