Abstract
A growing number of literature reports positive effects of physical activity and exercise.
These effects concern prevention, mortality and progress of cancer. Furthermore they
show a reduction of disease- and treatment-specific side effects, which implies a
better patients’ quality of life. Evidence shows a decreased mortality risk in patients
with physically active cancer of colon, breast, ovaries and prostate. Activity recommendations
for patients with cancer do not differ from those for healthy persons. However, a
decrease in physical activity can be observed in many cancer patients after diagnosis,
and this fact concludes to a reduced physical capacity – although just physical capacity
helps to overcome the burden of medical treatment and to recover. In fact, tailored
exercise programs can counteract a decrease in physical capacity successfully. Further
they reduce side effects such as fatigue, incontinence and lymphedema. Moreover, first
studies report a positive influence on: chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathies, cancer-related
cognitive impairments, bone health and sleep. Finally, an enormous number of investigations
showed that exercise interventions can improve psychosocial factors (e. g. mood and
self-esteem). Except for very few conditions, such as extremely impaired blood cell
counts and days when cardio- or nephrotoxic drugs are given, physical activity should
be recommended. Especially during medical treatment, physicians and therapists are
prompted to interact closely in order to prevent general activity prohibitions. Physical
activity and exercise programs represent a unique and low-cost chance for cancer patients
to influence the course of their own disease positively. More effort is necessary
to improve professional activity offers for cancer patients and survivors and to specify
activity recommendations.
Die Diagnose „Krebs“ und die anschließende medizinische Therapie verleiten viele Patienten
dazu ihre körperlichen Aktivitäten einzuschränken. Doch gerade Sport und bewegungstherapeutische
Programme sind effektive supportive Maßnahmen im Kampf gegen den Krebs und manche
Nebenwirkungen. Zudem haben die Betroffenen eine einzigartige Chance, selbst aktiv
an ihrem Genesungsprozess mitzuarbeiten. Was zu berücksichtigen ist, zeigt dieser
Beitrag.
Schlüsselwörter
Sport - Bewegung - Krebs - Überleben - Nebenwirkungen
Key words
exercise - physical activity - cancer - survival - side effects
