Many Cancer Survivors Are Not Exercising Enough
Cancer survivors do not exercise any more than the general population, even though exercise could help lower the risk of disease recurrence or death for many survivors, according to a study reported in an Edmonton Journal article, "Cancer survivors need to be more active," published on April 21, 2008. The study, which was published in the journal Cancer, found that survivors do not seem to be changing their behavior when it comes to exercise. Most oncologists focus on treatment options and side effects rather than the importance of weight loss or exercise, and exercise is often "the furthest thing from a cancer patient's mind." This research reinforces the Institute of Medicine Report, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs, which asserts that living with, through, and beyond cancer involves more than just focusing on treating the cancer cells. As anyone dealing with cancer knows, there is much more involved than treatment and side effects, so it is important for survivors to focus on their total health needs.
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