Cancer survivors, better work up a sweat.

New guidelines are urging survivors to exercise more, even — hard as it may sound — those who haven’t yet finished their treatment.

There’s growing evidence that physical activity improves quality of life and eases some cancer-related fatigue. More, it can help fend off a serious decline in physical function that can last long after therapy is finished.

Consider: In one year, women who needed chemotherapy for their breast cancer can see a swapping of muscle for fat that’s equivalent to 10 years of normal aging, says Dr. Wendy Demark-Wahnefried of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In other words, a 45-year-old may find herself with the fatter, weaker body type of a 55-year-old.Scientists have long advised that being overweight and sedentary increases the risk for various cancers. Among the nation’s nearly 12 million cancer survivors, there are hints — although not yet proof — that people who are more active may lower risk of a recurrence. And like everyone who ages, the longer cancer survivors live, the higher their risk for heart disease that exercise definitely fights.

The American College of Sports Medicine convened a panel of cancer and exercise specialists to evaluate the evidence. Guidelines issued this month advise cancer survivors to aim for the same amount of exercise as recommended for the average person: about 2 1/2 hours a week.

Patients still in treatment may not feel up to that much, the guidelines acknowledge, but should avoid inactivity on their good days.

“You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong,” stresses Dr. Julia Rowland of the National Cancer Institute, speaking from a survivorship meeting this month that highlighted exercise research. “Walk the dog, play a little golf.”

But how much exercise is needed? And what kind? Innovative new studies are under way to start answering those questions, including:

Oregon Health and Science University is training prostate cancer survivors to exercise with their wives. The study will enroll 66 couples, comparing those given twice-a-week muscle-strengthening exercises with pairs who don’t get active.

Researchers think exercising together may help both partners stick with it. They’re also testing if the shared activity improves both physical functioning and eases the strain that cancer puts on the caregiver and the marriage.

“It has the potential to have not just physical benefits but emotional benefits, too,” says lead researcher Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone.

Demark-Wahnefried led a recent study of 641 overweight breast cancer survivors that found at-home exercises with some muscle-strengthening, plus a better diet, could slow physical decline.

Duke University is recruiting 160 lung cancer patients to test if three-times-a-week aerobic exercise, strength training or both could improve their fitness after surgery. Lung cancer has long been thought beyond the reach of exercise benefits because it’s so often diagnosed at late stages. But Duke’s Dr. Lee Jones notes that thousands who are caught in time to remove the lung tumor do survive about five years, and he suspects that fitness — measured by how well their bodies use oxygen — plays a role.

People with cancer usually get less active as symptoms or treatments make them feel lousy. Plus, certain therapies can weaken muscles, bones, even the heart. Not that long ago, doctors advised taking it easy.

Not anymore: Be as active as you’re able, says Dr. Kathryn Schmitz of the University of Pennsylvania, lead author of the new guidelines.

“Absolutely it’s as simple as getting up off the couch and walking,” she says. Exercise programs are beginning to target cancer survivors, like Livestrong at the YMCA, a partnership with cycling great and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong’s foundation. The American College of Sports Medicine now certifies fitness trainers who specialize in cancer survivors. But anyone starting more vigorous activity for the first time or who has particular risks — like the painful arm swelling called lymphedema that some breast cancer survivors experience — may need more specialized exercise advice, Schmitz says. They should discuss physical therapy with their oncologist, she advises. For example, Schmitz led a major study that found careful weight training can protect against lymphedema, reversing years of advice to coddle the at-risk arm. But the average fitness trainer doesn’t know how to safely offer that special training, she cautions. Mary Lou Galantino of Wilmington, Del., is a physical therapist who specializes in cancer care — and kept exercising when her own breast cancer was diagnosed at Penn in 2003. Then 42, she says she was on the treadmill within 24 hours of each chemo session, to stay fit enough to care for her two preschoolers. “You can feel more energy” with the right exercise, says Galantino, a physical therapy professor at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. “I was giving my body up to the surgeons and chemo, but I could take my body back through yoga and aerobic exercise.” 

Editor’s Note – Lauran Neergaard covers health and medical issues for The Associated Press in Washington.

Written By LAURAN NEERGAARD
Washington (AP)  June 28, 2010

The Healing Moves Foundation will be offering special classes for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Look for the upcoming training class for fitness professionals, nurses, and physical therapists in Reno, Nevada on October 9 – 10. 
Pink Ribbon Program

About the Author:  Carol Krucoff, E-RYT is an award-winning journalist and fitness expert. She is the founding editor of the Health Section of The Washington Post, where her nationally syndicated column, Bodyworks, appeared for twelve years. Carol is the co-author of the book “Healing Moves.”  A frequent contributor to Yoga Journal, she has written for numerous national publications, including The New York Times, Prevention, and Reader’s Digest, and is creator of the home practice CD, Healing Moves Yoga.  Carol is a yoga therapist at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain is now available from New Harbinger Publishers.  For more information, log on to www.healingmoves.com.

The Healing Moves Foundation attended a news conference and official launch of the PPE Campaign and Coalition for Youth Sports Health and Safety at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2010.  The purpose of the campaign is to encourage consistent, thorough and high-quality preparticipation physical evaluations for athletes beginning training and competition in sports activities.  These medical screenings are extremely important to protect our young athletes.  People who appear healthy can often have undetected conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, or concussion complications.  A new study by the American College of Sports Medicine finds overwhelming support for consistent medical screening of young athletes to identify if any of these conditions are present before they hit the playing field.  Currently, there are no national standards when evaluating students.  Each state has a different mandate on the requirements for the PPE.

Athletes, Physicians Urge Adoption of New Medical Screening Tool

Source: American College of Sports Medicine
May 13, 2010

Many more young athletes would be screened for life-threatening or disabling medical problems, if experts who spoke out today prevail. While announcing the updated Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE), proponents urged its widespread adoption and systematic use. Representatives of the six medical societies who developed the new PPE tools teamed up with athletes and other advocates to underscore its potential to keep young athletes healthy.

“The PPE is an essential part of a responsible athletic program,” said former Congressman Jim Ryun, an Olympic medalist and multi-world record holder in track. “These screenings, if done timely and done right, can help prevent the kinds of injuries that can end a career or even a life.”

David Bernhardt, M.D., and William Roberts, M.D., served as co-editors of the newly revised “Preparticipation Physical Evaluation, 4th Edition” (www.ppesportsevaluation.org). “Done properly, these evaluations can detect conditions such as heart problems,” Bernhardt said. “In addition, screening and education can possibly prevent complications related to conditions such as diabetes, sickle cell trait, or concussion. That information can allow youngsters to safely practice or play sports.”

Roberts noted that the new version of PPE reflects the latest medical and scientific knowledge and includes information on ethical and legal considerations and on evaluating athletes with special needs. “While the PPE does screen for potentially catastrophic conditions, we also try to catch conditions that can predispose an athlete to injury or illness,” Roberts said. “And, for some adolescents, these evaluations are their entry into and only contact with the health care system. Doing these screenings across the board — and doing them well — is of the utmost importance.”

The public agrees

There’s no argument from the American people about that, according to a new study by the American College of Sports Medicine. Ninety-six percent of Americans feel it’s important for young athletes to be evaluated by a qualified health care professional before they begin playing sports. A similar majority — 95 percent — believe such screenings must be conducted in a consistent manner across the U.S. (Kelton Research online survey representative of the U.S. population, +/- 3.1 percent margin of error.)

The PPE Coalition

Improving the quality and consistency of pre-competition medical evaluations of U.S. student-athletes is the focus of the newly launched PPE Campaign and Coalition for Youth Sports Health and Safety. Members include medical organizations, sports governing bodies and other groups. At the PPE launch event, they called for widespread adoption of the updated PPE tool. “Requirements for preparticipation evaluations vary widely from state to state,” said James R. Whitehead, CEO of the American College of Sports Medicine. “Inconsistent effort gets inconsistent results, and too many problems are slipping through the cracks. Every young athlete deserves a thorough screening by a qualified medical professional. [The PPE Coalition] is determined to see that everyone can play or practice safely.”

Background

The Preparticipation Physical Evaluation, 4th Edition, is a collaboration of six leading medical societies:

The PPE is the definitive guide for physicians and other health professionals who evaluate athletes before training or competition — an essential tool for promoting the health and safety of athletes. The PPE provides the medical background for decisions by the individual athlete’s physician or the team physician.

The PPE marks important progress in the movement to ensure the health and safety of youth athletes. Other issues include:

The PPE Coalition for Youth Sports Health and Safety is anchored in promoting the consistent use of high-quality preparticipation evaluations for youth athletes. Activities include:

• Website (www.ppesportsevaluation.org)
• Speakers Bureau — Beginning with representatives of the writing team and expanding to offer qualified speakers where needed to build awareness of the importance of the PPE
• Working with policy makers in legislative and administrative bodies
• Building momentum and support for April as National Youth Sports Safety Month (www.nyssf.org/campaign.html)

SOURCE:  American College of Sports Medicine

Founding Partners of the PPE Coalition for Youth Sports Health and Safety:

• American Academy of Family Physicians*
• American Academy of Pediatrics*
• American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
• American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
• American Amateur Baseball Congress
• American.Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators
• American College of Sports Medicine*
• American Medical Society for Sports Medicine*
• American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine*
• American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine*
• Association for Applied Sport Psychology
• Building Healthier America
• Healing Moves Foundation
• International Society for Sport Psychiatry
• MomsTeam
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association
• National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc.
• National Council for Spirit Safety Education
• National Council of Youth Sports
• National Ski Areas Association
• Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
• President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
• Road Runners Club of America
• Sanford USD Medical Center
• United States Anti-Doping Agency
• Women’s Sports Foundation

During the month of May, we challenge you to 30 minutes of physical activity each day, no matter what your age or ability!  Together we can rise to the challenge to get active for life—a wonderful, healthier life!

Call your congressman on Tuesday March 30, 2010 and urge them to support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act. Americans around the country will be calling their legislators as part of the “Congressional Butt-In” a day-long effort organized by C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition. On that day, constituents are urged to flood their legislators offices with phone calls about important programs which would not only save millions of taxpayer dollars, but more importantly, have a positive impact on the number of colon cancer deaths each year.

Check out these five secrets to stop diabetes from the American Diabetes Association’s vast collection of expert advice. What better time to put these tips into action than during this year’s American Diabetes Association Alert Day?

Also, find out more about Diabetes Alert Day, take the Diabetes Risk Test to determine your level of risk for type 2 diabetes, and learn what steps to take next.

Are you an Apple or a Pear?

Did you know that being an apple rather than a pear shape – more fat around your middle than around your hips – raises your risk of type 2 diabetes? To determine your shape, take a tape measure (a flexible one is best) and place it snugly (not tightly) around your waist. Compare the width of your waist to the number below. If the width of your waist is the same or bigger than the numbers below, you have too much weight around your waist and are at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

• Men: over 40 inches
• Women: over 35 inches

Have you seen the size of your plate inflate?

As portion sizes have grown in recent years, so has our perception of what is the appropriate amount to eat in one sitting. Even dishes and glasses have increased in size, so a normal-size portion looks inadequate, fueling the urge to fill a plate or glass with extra calories and raising your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Although measuring cups and spoons may be useful at home, they aren’t very realistic when you eat out. A simple trick is to use your hand to help approximate portion sizes.

• A fist = 1 cup
• Palm of a woman’s hand = 3 ounces
• Palm of a man’s hand = 5 ounces
• Thumb tip = 1 teaspoon
• Thumb tip = 1 teaspoon

Source: Copyright © 2009 American Diabetes Association. From What Do I Eat Now?

Have you ever developed gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. In most cases, these mothers-to-be have never had diabetes before, and then it goes away after pregnancy. But, unfortunately, that’s not always the end of the story.

Once you’ve had GDM your chances are 2 in 3 that it will return in future pregnancies. And women who have had GDM are more than 7 times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as women who didn’t have diabetes in pregnancy. How can you lower your risk?

• Stay active. Regular exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Plus it can help you lose weight, manage stress, and feel better.
• Breastfeed. If you can, breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding can provide both short- and long-term benefits to both your baby and to you.
• Talk to your health care provider. Be sure to tell your health care providers that you’ve had GDM.
• Get tested. If you had GDM, you should be tested for diabetes 6–12 weeks after you give birth and at least every 3 years after that.
• Lose weight. Are you more than 20 percent over your ideal body weight? Losing even a few pounds can help you prevent type 2 diabetes.
• Limit fat to 30 percent or less of your daily calories, and watch your portion sizes. Healthy eating habits can go a long way in preventing diabetes and other health problems.

Source: American Diabetes Association’s CheckUp America campaign

Are you a Master Excuse-Maker?

While you may try to exercise often, do you find yourself making excuses when the demands of daily life take hold? By skipping a quick walk or work-out routine, many find the pounds add up. Here are few ways to build exercise into your regular routine and lower your type 2 diabetes risk:

• When working at your desk for an extended period of time, build short breaks into your day.
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator. If need be, take the elevator part of the way and the stairs the rest of the way, then gradually increase the number of floors you climb as you become more fit.
• If safe to do so, park your car at a distant part of the office parking lot so that you can increase the amount of walking you do on your way in. If you use public transportation, get off a stop or two early and walk to your destination.

Source: Copyright © American Diabetes Association. From the “I Hate to Exercise” book

Have you let up on your check-up?

With today’s hectic schedules and daily demands, it’s easy to forget or forgo a scheduled visit with your health care provider. Plus, if you feel a little heavier, more stressed or have been eating less healthy, chances are you’ll want to avoid this check-up more than in years past. But, seeing a healthcare provider on a regular basis is one of the best ways to manage your health, ask for tools to lower your risk, and stop diabetes before it starts.

Be sure to take our Diabetes Risk Test before visiting your health care provider. And, take along these questions and healthy guidelines to make the most of your visit.

• What is the circumference of my waist? (A healthy number is 40 inches or below for men, under 35 inches for women)
• What is my blood pressure?( Less than 120/80 is ideal)
• Will you give me a fasting blood glucose test? (Maintain a schedule of being tested every 3 years after age 45 and ask your doctor to explain the test results and provide tips on how to lower your numbers if need be)
• What is my cholesterol? (Total cholesterol should be less than 200, with LDL levels less than 100 and HDL levels more than 40 mgs for men, 50 mgs for women)
• What are some small steps I can take to be healthier and avoid type 2 diabetes?

Source: American Diabetes Association’s CheckUp America campaign

If you are still smoking, you need to stop. Although it is true that some non-smokers have gotten lung cancer, the majority of people with lung cancer are smokers. Cure your home if it is sick. Radon is a natural gas that can also cause lung cancer. It enters your home from soil and rock in the surrounding area. The danger is you cannot see or smell it. But you can order test kits to check the levels in your home. If you discover they are high, it is not expensive to clear them out.

Go for the green – tea that is. While all tea has cancer-preventing properties, green tea is the highest in polyphenols that kill several types of cancer cells including breast, liver, colon, lung, pancreas, and skin cancer. And a couple of cups of coffee each day will ward off cancer of the liver. According to Swedish scientists, coffee is high in the antioxidants that prevent the formation of carcinogens. Once you’ve had your cup of Java for the day, get moving. Scientific research has proven that exercise protects your immune system. And your immune system is your body’s defense against cancer. In fact, a healthy immune system can destroy a cancer cell without your awareness. Then when you’re thirsty after the exercise, try a glass of grape juice instead of a soda. Purple grape juice has also been proven to improve your immune system’s function.

And when it’s time for dinner, try substituting fish for beef. Frequent consumption of red meat increases your risk of colon cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer due to the high saturated fat content. Fish, on the other hand, is high in omega-3 fats that are beneficial to your health and since they are difficult to find, it is common for people to be deficient in omega-3 fats. Be sure to make your meal colorful. Your diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables of all colors. Each fruit or vegetable has different anti-oxidants and together they all offer you protection from cancer.

Take the right supplements. Calcium and Vitamin D offer protections from the risk of developing breast cancer and also are important in preventing other diseases. Most people do not get the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D, especially those who live in winter climates, so a supplement is important. Of course, individuals should always check with their health care provider before adding any supplement to their diet.

Choose the right spices. Add a little garlic to your diet. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that have been found to prevent rapid cell division, a process that cancer cells need in order to spread. Add the garlic to tomato sauce and become a tomato lover. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that has been proved to reduce the risk of colon, lung and breast cancer. Lycopene destroys free radicals before they can effect the cellular changes that lead to cancer. And processed products are as effective as the fresh vegetable. You can get the same benefit from ketchup, tomato sauce, tomato paste and cooked tomatoes.

Some Tips For Preventing Cancer
By Brenda Williams
About the Author: http://www.mhrwomens.com/programs.php MHR
Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=426832&ca=Cancer+Survival

All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the author.  The content is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or recommended treatments. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

“This isn’t something that will be fixed by just a bill in Congress or an executive order from the president. And I know that the last thing you all need right now is a bunch of commands from Washington or a ton of red tape that makes it hard for you to get anything done at all,” she said to a group of 250 mayors at the National Conference of Mayors in Washington.

“Ultimately, it’s going to take all of us — businesses and nonprofits; community centers and health centers; teachers and faith leaders; coaches and parents; and particularly all of you, our nation’s mayors — all working together to help families make common-sense changes so our kids can get, and stay, healthy.”

Citing recent statistics, Obama said that one in three kids is obese or overweight and on track to develop diabetes. For African-American and Latino kids, the rate is half, she said.

Next month, Obama will officially kick off an administrationwide initiative — her first — that will have a budget and a legislative component that addresses childhood obesity.

Obama has said that she would be willing to testify before Congress, which will take up school lunch legislation this year.

Last fall, Obama met with Cabinet members to discuss her agenda, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary  Kathleen Sebelius and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The four major goals of the first lady’s initiative will be increasing the number of “healthy schools,” providing more opportunities for kids to be active, ensuring that affordable and healthy food is more available and making sure that parents have nutrition facts.

Obama said that mayors, because they “govern where people feel it most … [and] see people’s struggles up close and personal,” can have a leading role in fighting childhood obesity.

Already, several mayors have implemented programs to combat obesity among kids such as building walkways and bikeways, bringing in farmers markets and partnering with local restaurants to promote low-fat menu options.

“Going forward, I want to hear more from all of you about this. We need your ideas and input,” she said. “In the end, I know that achieving this won’t be easy — and it won’t be quick. This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved in one year or even one administration. But make no mistake about it, the problem can be solved.”

By NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON | 1/20/10 4:17 PM EST

Article Source:  Politico

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31744.html#ixzz0dHoA7JYQ

All raffle proceeds will benefit the Healing Moves Foundation!  You can purchase one ticket for $5 or five tickets for $20.  The drawing will be held in Reno, Nevada on January 2, 2010.  Winners will be contacted by phone.  There will be two drawings, each for one 6-week bootcamp pass.  For more information, call Bill at (775) 378-9798 or log on to www.billduvall.com.

• Consider the temperature, but don’t overdress. Because the body will warm up, dress as if it’s 20 degrees warmer than the thermometer says is. A variety of running clothes are made with light-weight materials that will wick away sweat while keeping the body warm and protected, and will keep out wind and precipitation. 
• Protect the hands, feet and head. As much as 30 percent of the body’s heat can escape from the hands and feet, and 40 percent can escape from the head. 
• Watch for ice. Broken bones can keep a runner down for months.
• Stay hydrated. Even in cold weather the body will warm up and lose fluids, and cold air has a drying affect that can increase dehydration.  Remember to drink fluids before, during and after a run.
• Keep an energy supplement at hand if you are running long distances. Approximately 3,000 calories are burned while running a marathon, and the body needs nourishment. Energy gels and bars are designed with this in mind.
• Know your health. Cold weather can cause chest pains and asthma attacks in some people.  Consult a doctor with concerns.
• Get a training buddy. It’s hard to stay motivated by yourself.

–Source: About.com

By kgibbons

November 14, 2009, 6:02PM