Todd Allen and his wife took a European trip seven years ago.
He felt terrible by the time they got home.
Blood tests revealed cancer. Stage 4. Bone marrow.
Todd underwent 18 months of chemotherapy and had knee and hip surgery.
Never much for exercise, Todd then made a decision: “After the recovery, I said I gotta get my act together.”
“I’ve been a gym rat ever since,” Todd, now 65. Now, with a healthy prognosis, he wakes up early each morning to lift weights, runs stairs, and do other physical activity. “I look better now than I ever have in my life.”
The Research on Exercise and Cancer
Research proves that exercise is good for our health at any age. Experts say it also helps prevent cancer and lower its risk of recurring. And regular exercise benefits cancer survivors the same way it helps the general population – by reducing obesity and blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and more.
Strength training is essential to help maintain muscle and bone density. People generally lose muscle mass with age, and cancer exacerbates the decline.
The National Cancer Institute shares robust data about how exercise can reduce the risk of certain cancers:
- Breast cancer by 20 to 80 percent
- Endometrial cancer by 20 to 40 percent
- Colon cancer by 30 to 40 percent
The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia issued formal guidelines recommending exercise as a part of treatment for all cancer patients. It said:
- Exercise should be a part of standard care for cancer patients to fight the disease and the side effects of treatment.
- Treatment teams should promote physical activity so patients meet exercise guidelines.
- Patients should be referred to an exercise physiologist or physical therapist.
“If we could turn the benefits of exercise into a pill, it would be demanded by patients, prescribed by every cancer specialist, and subsidized by the government,” said Dr. Prue Cormie, author of the organization’s report. “It would be seen as a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
A healthy lifestyle should include exercise – which also helps limit other factors like obesity and blood pressure before and after cancer.
After treatment, exercise helps restore self-esteem and a sense of control, which cancer strips from patients, says Andrea Leonard, founder of the Cancer Exercise Training Institute. “Teaching them to regain control empowers them, increases esteem and confidence, and takes them from victim to survivor.”
‘Let’s Get Some Life While We’re Here
For Todd Allen, working out at the gym brings him the variety, social interaction, and mental health benefits he craves.
“I love the comradery,” he says. “You have to show up, or you get razzed. That’s key for consistency.”
With his health now solid and his outlook bright, Todd is committed to enjoying every day.
“Let’s get some life while we’re here,” he says. “I’m going to hold onto this thing for as long as possible.”
If you want to lower your risk of a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cancer while building a camaraderie with like-minded peers, Your Personal Best Training Studio is for you. Our team of functional aging specialists will assist you with your health and fitness goals.
Join our 21-Day Strength and Balance program to rediscover everything you’re still capable of!
Sign up here: https://go.ypbtrainingstudio.com/21-day-longevity-and-strength-program.