Cancer treatment and Pilates

Many of us have been touched by cancer. Whether it is a friend, relative or even yourself.  Cancer treatments have improved, for instance the 5 year survival rate of breast cancer has improved from 72% in 1980's to 90% in 2012.    In the 1950's the 10 year survival rate was only 25%.  Much of this improvement has been from increased early detection and improved treatment and follow up treatment with early diagnosis.  Some cancers have not made the same improvements. In the early 1980's the Ovarian cancer 5 year survival rate was 31%, currently the 5 year survival rate is approximately 43%.

It is great more people are surviving cancer, but with the treatment there are short term side effects during the treatment from the chemo therapy such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue and muscle pain.  Some of the side effect can also be long term such peripheral neuropathy, where you can have symptoms in the feet or hands or both. With peripheral neuropathy some of the symptoms can include pain, numbness, and tingling, weakness and balance issues.  Another long term side effect can be osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and early menopause.

Other cancer treatments  such Radiation therapy also has side effects some short term others can persist,  and are dependent on the site of treatment, such as swelling, pain, fatigue and site specific such as difficulty breathing if involving the chest area.  Surgery with the cancer treatment has its own set of long and short term side effects. There is the pain of the surgery itself and this can vary depending on the complexity and extent; some may also get lymphedema particularly if lymph nodes were removed. Lymphedema is where there swelling, pain and tightness in the effected limb and can last months or even years.  Even breast reconstruction can have it's own set of side effects, possibly causing issues with the shoulder and arm movement.  

Exercise has been shown to be excellent at preventing cancer, and it is now known that exercise is also extremely beneficial in dealing with the side effects for those going through cancer treatment and after treatment.  It is important that you first check with your doctor or oncologist before starting any exercise program, particularly if you have never exercised before.  Pilates at a professional studio helps in that the exercise type and intensity can be easily adjusted to suit the individual.  It is a great supportive environment where you are given detailed tuition on each exercise.  At Ranges Pilates we are highly trained in Pilates teaching with Diploma Level Qualification and the classes have a maximum of 4.