Improved Self Confidence

Exercise will help you feel better about your body. After breast surgery and treatment, many women feel disfigured and are unhappy with their changed bodies and possible weight gain. Exercise can help you feel more confident about your body and make improvements in your physique.

Overall Quality of Life Improvement

Exercise has been shown to improve overall quality of life in women that are going through or have been through treatment for breast cancer. Exercise may serve a restorative function and contribute to decreased attentional fatigue by shifting attention from the mundane task of daily life to a period of exercise which stimulates neuromuscular changes as well as reduce depression and anxiety. Exercise will also make the body stronger and have more endurance which can make daily tasks much simpler.

Immune System

Exercise increases the amount of oxygen that the body takes in, which can improve the immune system. When the body is deprived of oxygen, the immune system can be compromised and not be able to fight off infection. Moderate amounts of mild exercise can increase immune function.

Energy

A common side effect from cancer treatment is fatigue. Regular exercise helps to overcome fatigue by producing endorphins and amino acids that help naturally block pain signals produced by the nervous system. Over time, exercise will also increase the body’s endurance and strength.

• Start slowly and don’t overdo. Listen to your body
• Daily tasks such as shopping, cleaning, house and interacting with your children will be much easier.

Estrogen Regulation

Studies have shown that women who exercise regularly have a lower risk of breast cancer as well as lower circulating levels of estrogen.  Body fat is often reduced in women who exercise and body estrogen levels may be decreased. Fat cells are the primary source of estrogen in post-menopausal women. Added fat tissue appears to boost estrogens circulating in the bloodstream, which might play an important role in recurrence of breast cancer as well as the development of new breast cancer.

• Exercise reduces body fat keeping estrogen at safer levels.

Bone Density/Osteoporosis

Many women go into a menopausal state post treatment. Because of the lower levels of estrogen after breast cancer, there is a decrease in bone density.  Treatment also breaks down joint tissue and makes bones more brittle.

Breast cancer cells may speed the loss of calcium from bone as well as hinder its integration into bone. It’s possible that bone is affected in similar ways during chemotherapy.

Without muscular support for the skeletal frame, there is less support which can lead to broken bones and sore joints.

• Engaging in moderate, weight bearing activity slows down the process as well as stimulates the production of bone building nutrients.
• Exercise increases bone density and increases lean muscle tissue that supports the skeletal framework of the body.