The Importance of Exercise

Exercise is essential for overall health. It strengthens the heart, muscles and bones, helps with weight management, boosts immunity, and improves sleep. Mentally, it reduces stress, enhances mood, and sharpens brain function. Long-term, it lowers the risk of chronic diseases and promotes a longer, healthier life. Even small daily movements can make a big difference! 

Exercise has many benefits, both in the prevention of cancer and for those living with cancer. Exercise is important for cancer prevention and specifically lowers risk of seven common types of cancer: breast, endometrial, kidney, bladder, esophageal, stomach and colon.

Exercise is medicine for all people living with and beyond cancer according to the American Cancer Society, American College of Sports Medicine, the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Benefits during treatment include improved:

• Fatigue
• Quality of life
• Physical function
• Body composition
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep
• Breast cancer related lymphedema 

There are simple things you can do to move more, such as:

• When sitting at your desk at work, stand up every 30 minutes and stretch.
• While on the phone, stand up and walk around.
• Use stairs whenever possible.
• If you can’t walk or stand, try seated knee lifts, kicks, foot slides, punches or arm circles.
• Don’t take the closest parking spot; park further away to add steps to your day.
• Get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
• Rake some leaves.
• Have a dance party in your living room.
• Walk to the mailbox.
• Take up gardening or lawn work.
• If watching TV, stand up during commercials and do simple arm circles.
• Take a walk with your family after dinner each night.

Start Simple

Choose an activity that you will enjoy (walking, biking, swimming) and that is accessible to most people. Use “toys” such as therabands, hand weights and exercise balls to enhance your workout and add diversity and fun. 

Select a friend or “buddy” to exercise with. There are statistics showing that people who exercise with a friend are more successful at exercising consistently, probably because you can keep each other motivated and accountable.

Select a consistent time for your workout and build the time into your daily schedule. Staying active pays off! 

Download our Exercise Guide for more ideas on how to build an exercise plan that works for you and helps you take advantage of the benefits of exercise.

Additional Resources