Tuesday, 4th February 2020 was World Cancer Day which aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about the disease.
Risk of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer with a staggering 17,730 new cases in Australia in 2017 alone.
Risk factors for breast cancer include gender (women are ~100x more likely to be diagnosed), age, family history, genetics, hormonal factors and lifestyle (inactivity, increased alcohol consumption, excess weight).
The good news is that up toa third of cancers are preventable, and many diagnosis' are treatable.
Incorporating Exercise into Breast Cancer Treatment
Some of the effects of breast cancer and its treatment include deconditioning, fatigue, shoulder dysfunction, lymphoedema, cording, peripheral neuropathy, cardiotoxicity, muscle loss, bone loss, bone metastases, myalgia, arthralgia, neutropenia, anaemia, distress and many others. Due to the array of different side-effects people experience post breast cancer treatment, it is important to have a tailored, specific exercise program that will ensure you are getting the most out of every session. General guidelines for breast cancer include 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise plus 2-3 sessions per week of moderate intensity resistance exercise.
Exercise may lower cancer risk by helping control weight, reduce sex hormones or insulin, and strengthen the immune system.
