Podcast

Physical activity has beneficial effects on cancer prevention and patients receiving treatment. Various types of physical activity have been found to reduce the risk of colon, breast, endometrial, and lung cancer. However, studies on physical activity and ovarian and prostate cancer have inconsistent results. Chemotherapy can significantly reduce physical activity levels in cancer patients, leading to fatigue and limited mobility. Yoga and low-intensity exercises are recommended for breast cancer patients on chemotherapy. Cancer patients in the United Kingdom are not meeting recommended physical activity guidelines, and post-cancer fatigue is a common barrier to exercise. Lack of social support also affects patient engagement in physical activity. Our topic is going to focus on physical activity effects on cancer patients. Between the three of us, we will research how physical activity prevents cancer, how it affects cancer patients receiving treatment, and general benefits of physical activity on patients. My name is Lizzie, and I'll be reviewing general benefits of physical activity on patients. My name is Abby, and I'll be reviewing how physical activity prevents cancer. My name is London, and I will be examining how physical activity affects cancer patients receiving treatment. I'll be reviewing the article titled, State of Epidemiological Evidence on Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention. Although it is evident in the epidemiology of cancer that physical activity lowers the risk of cancer, it's still unclear how much physical activity and what types of physical activity are required to reduce cancer risk. It is also unclear that physical activity affects the development of certain types of cancer more than others. The European Journal of Cancer reviews the effects of physical activity on the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. It is stated in the article that physical activity reduces the risk of colon cancer by 20 to 25 percent in both men and women who engage in the highest level of physical activity, and there is evidence that a dose-response relationship exists with higher risk reductions and more physical activity. The risk reduction in breast cancer is about 25 percent when comparing those that are physically active to those that are not. There is a consistent dose-response relationship between the decreased risk of breast cancer and an increased physical activity rate. What types of physical activity are the most beneficial? All types of physical activity are beneficial in reducing risk, but recreational and household activity have the highest effect on risk reduction. According to many studies, the average risk reduction for endometrial cancer is about 30 percent due to physical activity. The most beneficial types of physical activity include household activities or walking and cycling. There is also evidence that being sedentary, specifically sitting, for over five hours a day can increase your risk for developing endometrial cancer. Multiple studies have been done to examine the relationship of physical activity on lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. However, many of the findings have inconsistent results. Therefore, it's hard to draw a conclusion that physical activity alone reduces the risk of cancer development in these three cancers. For lung cancer, over 20 studies have been conducted, and all studies show a risk reduction rate ranging from 20 to 40 percent. Why are some of the studies inconsistent? One of the major confounders that made these studies inconsistent was smoking. The studies that stratified nonsmokers from smokers showed that physical activity shows a much greater effect on smokers as opposed to nonsmokers. For ovarian cancer, over 20 studies have been conducted on physical activity and ovarian cancer. However, many of the findings remain inconsistent as well. About half of the studies show that there is a benefit of physical activity, but the other half did not show a benefit. It's estimated that about a 20 percent risk reduction rate is clear. For prostate cancer, the evidence of physical activity are not as consistent as the previous five studies. Only about one-third of the studies conducted have shown a positive association between physical activity and the risks of prostate cancer. The risk reduction rate was not very high either, and it only ranged from 10 percent to 20 percent. These studies are inconsistent because it's unknown whether the benefits of physical activity vary according to age, BMI, or family history. The study outlines a variety of potential biological mechanisms that physical activity affects in order to reduce the risk of cancer development on the previous six cancers mentioned. For example, physical activity reduces body fat, which lowers levels of testosterone and phlegm to remarkers and adipocrines. The cancers that are believed to be positively affected by these benefits are colon, ovarian, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. Another example is that physical activity improves pulmonary function, which lowers the risk for lung cancer. The studies on physical activity and cancer in general have been greatly increasing, and it is becoming more evident that physical activity is a modifiable risk factor in cancer and many other chronic diseases as well. What are the physical activity recommendations for the most benefits related to cancer risk reduction? This particular study established that 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity for five days a week is the most beneficial. To complement Abby's findings, I would like to transition to how physical activity levels fluctuate while patients receive chemotherapy, which is a common treatment of cancer. Based on a study focusing on PA levels in breast cancer chemotherapy in Chile, a country in South America, the study overall implied that patients that are currently in the process of receiving chemotherapy have drastically lower levels of PA. Because of the domino effect from symptoms of receiving treatment such as chemotherapy, it is known to reduce their physical function, which could impair their physical function and daily activities generally. Also, the concept that patients are older when they get cancer because cancer consists of cells that gradually develop throughout the body. Like Dr. Wills said, everyone has cancer cells. The body doesn't replace them fast enough. Then you've got to add on that the body degenerately slows down physically at those ages. People are at risk shows that there needs to be more health measures in effect to get patients that are receiving treatments physically active. By accommodating their symptoms and focusing on finding activities to combat their fatigue and physical limitations from chemotherapy and other potential cancer treatments. Now transitioning to any questions you all may have for my faculty. I do have a question for you. What would you recommend for breast cancer patients? What type of physical activity would you recommend for breast cancer patients on chemotherapy that could help their fatigue? I would highly suggest that yoga could improve their mobility because as mentioned earlier, symptoms of chemotherapy affects limited mobility. I've seen that from an observational site. Not to get too personal, but my dad has colon cancer stage four. I see how chemotherapy limits his extremities. He's really fatigued and laid up in bed all day. As somebody that has multiple sclerosis, I try to get him walking or try to stretch his limbs so they don't stiffen. Along with the fact that I notice how weak he is, I try to get his muscles moving as much as possible. I would recommend things like yoga, walking, low aerobic activity, nothing too intense. I also have a question for you. Is there much of a difference in physical activity levels for cancer treatment receiving patients in Chile than there is here in America? I think because there's more cancer patients here in America and we also do have a really high mortality rate for cancer, I think PA levels, I would assume, or educatedly speaking, will be far worse than Chile. Also, you have to consider the fact that cancer and obesity also associate with one another. Physical activity levels is a desperate need to preserve the quality of living with obese individuals. They go hand in hand, so I would highly think that if it's bad in Chile, it's far worse here. Following London's review, I'll be reviewing the role of physical activity in cancer recovery in exercise practitioners' perspective. Okay, I do have a question to kick it all off. How much of a toll has cancer taken on the United Kingdom? The United Kingdom has suffered about 375,000 new cases of cancer from 2016 to 2018, 52% of that being either breast, bowel, or prostate cancer. As trends continue to rise, treatments are being given, but even with heavy treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, the most simple one still remains as one of the most important and effective. What is that treatment? Physical activity. Not only is physical activity a great way to keep the body moving, it is also a way to improve survival rates through its ability to increase flexibility, hemoglobin levels, and bone mineral density. Despite its benefits, according to author Andy Pringle in his article in the National Library of Medicine, evidence suggests that 20% of cancer patients who are currently receiving treatment are not meeting the daily physical activity guidelines. These guidelines consist of 150 minutes of exercise per week. Why are 20% of cancer patients not meeting the guidelines? Treatment affects every patient differently. The most common cancer treatment side effect is post-cancer fatigue and affects anywhere from 70% to 100% of patients during and after treatment. PCF can lead to muscular atrophy, increased social anxiety, and depression, reduced aerobic capacity, weight loss, and an overall reduced engagement with physical activity. Due to PCF, patients are too fatigued to engage in physical activity and then suffer the risk of developing secondary cancer or chronic illness. Patients may also be intimidated by the lack of social support. How was this reviewed and tested? A sample of five cancer rehabilitation exercise practitioners were interviewed, four male and one female. They each had worked in their fields from six months to 30 years, ensuring that they were all qualified. The participants were presented with five main topics, all regarding physical activity and how it has taken a toll on the patient before, during, and after. After 45 to 60 minutes, their results showed four main themes, beginning with, one, the importance of being socially supported in regards to cancer patients, two, the engagement with physical activity and the factors that influence this, three, how heavy physical activity is prescribed to patients, and four, the impact of government support on provision. Why do patients lack engagement with physical activity, knowing the benefits? Because they don't know. Practitioners are aware of the fact that most cancer patients are not aware of the benefits that stem from physical activity. A practitioner mentioned that patients are unaware that it's safe for them to exercise while it's undergoing treatment. Once patients are informed of the benefits that source from physical activity, patients will slowly begin to open their minds to the idea of being physically active. In summary, how can physical activity benefit cancer patients? Physical activity can help maintain and improve both physical and psychological symptoms that come hand-in-hand with cancer treatments. Physical activity helps reduce the symptoms of cancer-related fatigue by increasing aerobic performance and increasing flexibility, ultimately leading to a reduction in physical pain. Physical activity during treatment can relieve chronic fatigue, boost confidence, and overall improve quality of life.