Dealing with breast cancer comes with a lot of emotional, psychological, and physical stress. When treated for cancer, a patient’s body is beginning to experience many hormonal imbalances.
According to Healthline, “about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer throughout their lifetime.” Journal of Global Oncology reports that “breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide, with approximately 1.4million patients diagnosed annually, and is the most common cause of cancer deaths in Ghanaian women.”
Cancer Fighter
The statistics look alarming. So what advice do we have for someone who may be coping with or have dealt with breast cancer?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the fact that, even though you’re dealing with so much trouble, no other person can endure the treatment, pain, and the stress that accompanies living with breast cancer but you? You cannot hire anyone to take your pain.
You are the hero of your own story.
Like a hero, you need to find smart and efficient solutions to your current situation.
If you are particular about your fitness habits, you’re surely on the right path to effectively managing this condition.
The good news is that when you include moderate, non-strenuous, and low-impact exercises, your body and mind will reap the benefits in your daily routine.
“Low to moderate exercise is helpful as treatments like chemotherapy take their toll on a patient’s overall health, stamina, and strength.” Says Eleanor Walker, M.D., director of breast radiation oncology at Henry Ford Health System.
Cancer Advocate or Supporter:
Whether you’ve suffered breast cancer before, or know someone currently dealing with breast cancer, read this article to learn how these five exercises can improve your health:
- Dancing
Engaging in solo or group dance classes has been proven as an excellent way to boost the health of most women. Dancing improves your motion and helps breast cancer patients enhance their:
- Femininity
- Self-image
- Mood
- Physical well-being
The more consistent you show up at your dance class, the better your body’s chance increases at winning against:
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Depression
Fitness programs to help you:
Fitness 1 Gym is the best gym in Accra to treat your body to dance therapy movements. The group dance classes offered are a great way to help you enjoy others’ company and benefit from the many feelings of togetherness with group sessions. We suggest taking safety precautions if you are severely immunocompromised as we want to make sure all our clients are safe.
Our current dance packages for women include:
Monday Evening: Yoga
Time: 7:00pm
Starting Monday, September 19, 2020
Rate: 50gh
Wednesday Evening
Samba Fitness with Musa Akua.
Time: 6:30 pm
Rate: 50gh per session.
Thursday Evening
Vogue Fusion (Dance on Heels class with Nela Elle)
Time: 7:00pm
Rate: 50gh
Friday Evening
Dance with Yve
Time: Fridays, at 6:30 pm
Chair Yoga:
Most specialists recommend chair yoga for women. Chair yoga is popular among women because of its unique way of enhancing their mental health and physical well-being. In addition to minimizing the general uneasiness and anxiety that accompanies living with the disease, yoga helps patients to:
- Reduce fatigue
- Minimize depression
- Improve sleep quality
- Increase flexibility
- Minimize joint pain
“The ability to de-stress that comes with yoga is one of the greatest benefits. Every effect of cancer compounds into stress and yoga helps patients work through this,” says Dr. Walker.
Tai chi
Also known as “moving meditation,” experts report that the meditation and breathing tai chi techniques help enhance:
- A sense of being in control
- Flexibility
- Heart and lung function
- Strength
- Balance
- Self-esteem
Remember this safety precaution before you try Tai chi:
- Inform your medical practitioner
- Exercise at your own slow pace
- Schedule resting breaks
- Talk to your instructor and learn other more comfortable ways to try tai chi because of your condition.
Walking
Walking can be a great way to stay physically active and give your body the energy it needs to fight off breast cancer. Do you know daily walking exercises minimize the levels of hormones known to speed up the risk for breast and endometrial cancers?
Before you head out to take a walk, note that “for walking to count as exercise, you should be a little out of breath and feel your heart beating a little faster,” says Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D.
Pilates
Pilates is one of the most popular exercises among breast cancer survivors that involves the mind, body, and spirit, a mash-up of yoga, martial arts, and gymnastics. Pilates is a unique and flexible method to improve breast cancer survivors or patients’ healing. The types of Pilate exercises help improve:
- Balance
- Mind relaxation
- Muscle strength and body movement
- Your focus and help you live in the moment
A 2010 study documented by Maven Doctors discovered that “Pilates is safe and effective for breast cancer survivors.”
Here are Some Benefits of Physical Exercise for Breast Cancer Survivors:
- Reduces Progesterone and Estrogen Level
High levels of progesterone in women may increase the risk factors of breast cancer in women. According to Kossman et al., “after exercise, total progesterone exposure is decreased by nearly 24%.”
- Ease Treatment Side Effects
Aerobic exercises help to reduce cardiotoxic side effects significantly.
- Improves Movement of the Shoulder Joints
The more physically active breast cancer survivors and patients become, the quicker and faster their shoulder joints’ motion.
- Helps Survivors Live Longer
More and more research has proven that physical exercise makes survivors more active and increases the life span of breast cancer survivors.
- Helps to Maintain Healthy Weight
Getting physically active helps breast cancer patients and survivors maintain a balance in keeping a healthy body weight.
- Boost Energy Levels
The treatments breast cancer patients go through take a toll on their energy levels, and workouts are excellent ways to restore energy in such women.
- Reduces Recurring Risks of Being Infected
- Increases Sexuality
Try to explore the restorative power of fitness. Whether you know a friend who is currently battling with the disease, or you have a family history of breast cancer, or only satisfying your curiosity, these fitness habits will help you manage breast cancer more effectively.
- Take it easy on yourself
Know and accept your current condition and take it easy on yourself. Even if your energy and resistance level is not enough to do as much in the gym as you will want to, you don’t have to let that deter you. Keep showing up, eat healthily, and remember that you’re doing so well considering your current circumstances. Little, daily efforts in the gym are vital to keeping you emotionally and physically well.
- Exercise with a certified fitness Trainer or Therapist
Dealing with breast cancer requires you to make informed decisions. Don’t just decide which exercise is right for you because you want to. Fitness trainers and therapists have all the information you need to know. As one of Ghana’s leading Fitness Centers, Fitness 1 has some of the country’s best trainers.
They could offer you tips and hacks to make your treatment and workouts less stressful and safer for you. You can sign up with the best gym in Ghana at One Airport Square in Accra to access the best fitness professionals.
- Learn about the types of exercises that are healthy for you.
Remember to make safety your priority and seek to find information and live by tips that promote your safety. Read from blogs and books, watch documentaries and YouTube videos. There’s so much information out there; all you need to do is to find it. If in treatment, check with your therapist to make sure the advice you are gathering is valid. Not everything posted online is accurate.
- Check out to know the testimonials of other women.
Knowing how other breast cancer survivors lived with and recovered from cancer can inform us when making better decisions. Please find out the types of exercises they did and how they did it. When you do this, not only will your hope for survival rekindle, but you will begin to make smarter fitness choices.
We’ve shared tips with you on some of the activities that you can do to help you either in treatment or to keep yourself healthy to stave off cancer. Now, we are sharing an inspirational playlist to help you spice up your workouts and
- “Fighter” – Christina Aguilera
- “Survivor” – Destiny’s Child
- “Titanium” – David Guetta, Sia
- “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson
- “Freedom”-Beyonce
- “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
- “Head Above Water” -Avril Lavigne
- “Warrior”-Demi Lovato
Stop Cancer Fund has reported that “exercise improves the immune system, cancer patients who exercise regularly lower their risk of cancer returning.”
This article is a source of inspiration and support for those who may or may not be experiencing living with breast cancer. We understand the impact that this disease has on our community, and we hope that no woman (or man) gets this illness. Our reality is, the more proactive we are, the greater our chances of fighting against and defeating breast cancer. Stay active to improve your chances of beating this disease.
Also, remember to visit a health facility for breast cancer screening this month.
If you’re ready to do more for your health
and fitness, get fit with Fitness 1, the best gym in Accra. Get in touch today and send us an email via [email protected] or drop a message in the comments.
We are here for you!
References
Kapoor S. MD, Current Oncology, Advantages of exercise in breast cancer patients and survivors in addition to its mitigating effect on chest wall pain, October 29, 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3557345/
Bertone H. CNHP, PMP, Healthline, Yes, You Can! Tips for Exercising With Breast Cancer, December 2, 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/tips-for-exercise
Thomas A.S, Kidwell M.K, Merajver S. D, Journal of Global Oncology, Breast Cancer in Ghana: Demonstrating the Need for Population-Based Cancer Registries in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5735963
Revista Brasileira de Atividade Fisica & Saude, ResearchGate, Dance as a treatment therapy in breast cancer patients – a systematic review, July 2017,
Henry Ford Health System Staff, Henry Ford Livwell, Breast Cancer And
The Benefits of Yoga, October 24, 2016, https://www.henryford.com/blog/2016/10/breast-cancer-benefit-yoga#:~:text=For%20women%20undergoing%20breast%20cancer,of%20going%20through%20this%20disease
BreastCancer.Org, Tai Chi, https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/comp_med/types/tai_chi#:~:text=Many%20practitioners%20believe%20that%20there,balance
Nathan-Garner L, MD Anderson, Boost your Walking Workout to lower your cancer risk, https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/FOH-walking-workout.h10-1589835.html
A Woman’s Health, Pilates for Breast Cancer Survivors, September 27, 2020, https://mavendoctors.io/women/fitness/pilates-for-breast-cancer-survivors-GhRr3Uj2sUitDp20dD4FVA