The Pure Pod S2 E6: How Exercise Supports Cancer Treatment and Recovery

It is expected that 50% of people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer. With so many of us likely to be afflicted by the disease, Pure Sports Medicine are on a mission to inform patients how they can return to a higher quality of life both during and after acute treatment. 

A cancer diagnosis brings a range of side effects and experiences. Some survivors experience complications for years after their diagnosis and treatment; fatigue and loss of independence can result in declining physical function and quality of life. 

Research shows that survivors, and patients currently undertaking treatment for cancer, can safely engage in exercise, improving their physical fitness, function and quality of life. Not only can that mitigate symptoms, but it can also reduce recurrence. Some studies show that exercise reduces risk of recurrence by an average of 30% when comparing active survivors to inactive ones. 

How much exercise should cancer patients be undertaking? Are there specific types of exercise that can help with recovery, and lower recurrence risk? How can exercise help with a patient's mental wellbeing, as they take on arduous treatment programs?

To discuss these topics in more detail, I’ll be joined by Dean Sutton, a strength and conditioning coach; and physiotherapist Jessica Patel, who are both specialists in cancer rehab.

Here’s what we covered: 

• Whether patients are reluctant to exercise following a diagnosis (02:45)
• The benefits of exercise for patients during their treatment (03:45) 
• The benefits of resistance training and aerobic exercise (11:30) 
• Why exercise can help patients with their mental wellbeing (17:30) 
• How an MDT might work alongside an oncologist to build an exercise plan (21:00) 
• Pure Sports Medicine’s cancer rehabilitation programme (26:45) 
• How medical professionals help patients manage their expectations around exercise during their treatment and rehabilitation (30:15) 
• How exercise can reduce the risk of recurrence (34:00) 

 Speaker Bios 

•  Dean Sutton https://puresportsmed.com/team/dean-sutton/ 
•  Jessica Patel https://puresportsmed.com/team/jessica-patel/ 

Pure Sports Medicine is the UK’s leading provider of musculoskeletal, sport and exercise medicine, providing access to the highest standards of non-surgical medical care delivered by our team of world-class specialists working together all under one roof. Our team approach means efficient and effective treatment with same day referrals where needed to ensure you have the exact people around you that you need.

In this podcast we hand the mic to our team of experts including, Physiotherapists, Sport & Exercise Medicine consultants, Nutritionists, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, Soft Tissue Therapists and many more, to bring you the most up-to-date information and advice to help you achieve your sporting or fitness goals. We'll give you tips on avoiding injury and managing new or ongoing conditions with the goal of helping you get back to your best.

 For more expert info and advice right at your fingertips, check out the links below:

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