Guest Post: The Role of Running in Fighting Cancer

I have another guest article today. Liz Davies wrote about a topic that means a lot to her. If you have any questions regarding anything mentioned in here, please do not hesitate to contact her.

If you think you have a topic I might publish on my blog, you can contact me about it. No commercial advertising, though. I've said no to several offers already.

The Role of Running in Fighting Cancer

Cancer affects millions of people of all ages throughout the world. While the disease is often deadly, a cancer diagnosis does not mean a patient has to surrender to the disease. Making simple lifestyle changes can help not only during treatments, but also as a patient recuperates post treatment. One beneficial lifestyle change with growing research supporting its use is regular physical exercise, such as running. When appropriate, activities like running can provide several benefits to both cancer treatment and recovery.

Muscle Strength

Running plays an important role in maintaining muscle when undergoing treatment, as well as building muscle after cancer treatments. While the time spent resting during and after treatments is important, the lack of movement can reduce muscle mass, increasing feelings of fatigue and weakness. Running places stress on the muscles, encouraging the muscle fibers to strengthen, combating negative muscle side effects.

Bone and Joint Health

Bone loss is another common concern during cancer treatments. When a person runs, they place stress on the bones. The body reacts by increasing the activity of osteoblasts, special cells which can increase bone density to better face the stress in future runs. Running also keeps the joints moving, which combats joint stiffness that can develop during recuperation periods.

Weight

Research suggests that those who exercise during and after cancer treatment have a tendency to live longer and have fewer recurrences than those who do not, according to Professor Kerry Courneya, PhD, from the University of Alberta. Part of this phenomenon is due to the effects exercise like running have on maintaining a healthy weight and combating obesity, which can sometimes develop during or after cancer treatment.

Mental Health

Not only can running affect overall physical health, it can also help prevent mental health side effects that can occur during and after treatments, such as feelings of anxiety or depression. Exercise activates the body to naturally release neurotransmitters and endorphins, which help increase feelings of wellness. Running or other physical activities also provide a healthy coping mechanism to help temporarily take the mind off of a cancer diagnosis, helping improve the mood of a cancer patient.

It's important to keep in mind that running is not appropriate for all cancers. Running is often an exercise that can be built up to. Cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer causes patients to focus on cardio exercises for an increased lung capacity. Exercises like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking around the block are ways patients can start to build up their endurance. Patients should talk to their doctor or treatment team to determine whether other forms of exercise are more appropriate for each specific diagnosis before starting a running routine.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness.

She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.