Breast and prostate cancer patients who regularly excercise during and after cancer treatment report having a better quality of life and being less fatigued, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit.

"Using exercise as an approach to cancer care has the potential to benefit patients both physically and psychologically, as well as mitigate treatment side effects," said study lead author Eleanor M. Walker, MD, division director of breast services in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Henry Ford Hospital, in a statement.  "Plus, exercise is a great alternative to patients combating fatigue and nausea who are considering using supplements which may interfere with medications and chemotherapy they’re taking during cancer treatment."

To study how exercise impacts cancer patients, Walker and her colleagues at Henry Ford’s Josephine Ford Cancer Center and the Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute developed a program called ExCITE (Exercise and Cancer Integrative Therapies and Education).

ExCITE works with patients who are receiving cancer treatment to create individualized exercise programs. Some patients come into one of Henry Ford’s fitness centers to work out, while others have plans that allow them to exercise at home during various stages of their care.

The study group thus far includes 30 female breast cancer patients and 20 prostate cancer patients, ranging in age from 35 to 80. All were newly diagnosed when they began ExCITE. The study followed the patients during treatment and for 1 year following completion of cancer treatment.

Before beginning the exercise program, Henry Ford’s Preventative Cardiology Division measured the patients’ exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength, and endurance. General blood work, metabolic screens, bone density, and inflammatory biomarkers also were obtained at the start of the program.

Exercise and diet recommendation for each patient were based on their baseline exercise tolerances, weight, overall health, and type of cancer treatment they would receive. Acupuncture was used for patients who experienced hot flashes, pain, nausea/vomiting, insomnia, and neuropathy as the result of cancer treatment.

Cheryl Fallen of Gross Pointe Park, Mich, was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer while she took part in the ExCITE program, the hospital reports. Through a mix of exercise, acupuncture and good nutrition, she didn’t experien some of the more common side-effects from treatment — nausea, fatigue, and trouble with memory.

"ExCITE offers cancer patients a way to holistically approach their cancer care by tailoring a specific exercise routine to fit the needs of the patient, whether it’s rehabilitation after surgery, or to enhance circulation or improve the immune system prior to chemotherapy or radiation," Fallen said in the statement. "Overall, the program makes you feel better about yourself. It’s a positive support for cancer patients, and I really think it’s allowed me to be more productive during my treatment,"

When her white blood cell count fell during chemotherapy, Fallen would work out at home using an exercise band or by walking outdoors. When she was well enough to return to the gym, her workouts consisted of using the exercise ball and treadmill, and doing other strength-training exercises.

Study of the ExCITE program is ongoing, with Walker and her colleagues continuing to investigate the potential benefits of exercise for cancer patients.

Study funding: Josephine Ford Cancer Center, part of the Henry Ford Health System, and Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Friends, a group dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer care and research at Henry Ford.

[Source: Eureka Alert! on behalf of Henry Ford Health System]