The message to doctors about exercise and cancer: “Let’s see athletes, not patients”

They impact health, increase survival and reduce the side effects of treatments. But as Soraya Casla explains, a pioneer in the development of the cancer exercise in Spain and author of the book ‘Before cancer, move’ (Vergara), to get these benefits, no activity is worth it. «If there is the message that is worth walking, many patients will be frustrated to see that even though they walk daily they remain as tired, with the same muscle problems and the same neuropathies. To be effective, it is necessary combine strength, cardiovascular and mobility exercises and balancemixing high and low intensities, For that guideline is what allows to work all aspects: the metabolic, the skeletal, the functional and the neural part, ”he clarifies. But also the expert, who works with it daily from her program ‘Exercise and cancer’ (@ejercioyCancer ) It states that when speaking intensity, it should be clarified that it must adapt to the physical conditions, the stage of the disease and the type of treatments, as well as the phase in which they are found, so personalization is fundamental .

Casla also affects the importance of carrying out a progression: «Neither can the same exercises be done or the same number of repetitions or the same activity or the same duration. The body is improving and it is important to adapt the intensity to these improvements, so professional advice is so important, ”he reveals.

Share this opinion Helios Pareja, professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) in the field of exercise physiology, nutrition and metabolism; Who affects the importance of disseminating that exercise is a therapeutic and complementary assistant, that is, that helps main oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or surgery, as well as to reduce side effects . «Paradoxically, exercise is the most powerful tool to combat that chronic fatigue related to cancer. This was described by Alejandro Lucía, an expert in exercise physiology, who explained that fatigue runs the risk of self -perpetuate, because when we are tired we do less exercise and when doing less exercise, the metabolic and muscular adaptations are lost that prevent fatigue », Argues.

That is why the expert affirms that the only way to break that vicious circle is that the patient overcome the psychological pothole that prevents him from moving. “If you end that inertia, you will get the physiological adaptations that allow you to reduce that fatigue,” he contributes.

But also from the molecular point of view, a partner affects the positive effects of mine that are released when the muscle contracts with some recurrence and that not only help combat caghexia derived from cancer, but also studying their capacity to reduce the progression of tumors such as breast or colon. “This would mean that the muscle is able to generate what could be considered as anti -cancer drugs,” he says.

Essential allies

«Change the term ‘patient‘by the one of’athlete‘It is the first step to place the exercise and the person with cancer in the place that corresponds to him, because if you want to obtain the benefits that science supports, it is necessary to train, be methodical and be controlled by a professional, just as it happens to an athlete, ”explains Chema Moya, director of the headquarters of UAPO (oncological patient support unit) in Madrid and Doctor of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at the UAM.

But also one of the keys to carrying out this Therapeutic approach to exerciseHowever, it is to have support from the health field. «When a diagnosis is received, the concern logically focuses on oncological treatments, but you have to go beyond the patient and see the person, who needs guidelines and resources to know what he can do in a complementary and integrative way (exercise, nutrition , psychology, physiotherapy) to improve your health, ”says Moya.

That is why, for this, he adds, the health workers in general and the oncologist in particular are essential allies, because if the doctor is aware of everything that the exercise scheduled, directed and controlled by a specialized professional; It can improve your patients, you will be advancing on the way to that necessary interdisciplinary work defended by cancer exercise experts.

That change of clinical perspective, as Dr. Casla recalls, also requires institutional support. An example is that of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology and the Ovarian and hereditary breast cancer association (Amoh) that, through specific programs together with the Higher Sports Council, support exercise as an important part of the treatment.

Another of the fronts on which progress is needed is in the field of specialized training because, although it has been working on it from very different areas, the implementation of standardized protocols is still needed based on scientific studies. «Many specialists still work with the principle of ‘not damaging’ above ‘adapt and improve’. And that happens because they do not understand the physiology of cancer patients or know how to analyze what is happening in their body, ”says the founder of ‘exercise and cancer’.

Likewise, as the person responsible for UAPO Foundation in Madridit is necessary to offer more possibilities, both private and public, so that patients, or rather athletes, can take care of their health thanks to the exercise in environments that are friendly and safe, especially in the early stages of the disease.

Finally, the active participation of the cancer patient is essential, as a couple contributes: «As they ask and inform themselves about their treatments, it is important that they seek specific responses and solutions to improve their quality of life with professional advice on exercise and nutrition »He concludes.