| Complementary medicine integrates non-Western | | | | followed an exercise program to the half who were |
| treatment methods into mainstream medical practice. | | | | randomized to receive radiation therapy without |
| Examples include light exercise, guided imagery, | | | | exercise therapy. |
| massage, yoga, reiki, tai chi, acupuncture, music | | | | The program consisted of moderate, home-based |
| therapy, and art therapy. | | | | use of resistance bands and walking. Of the |
| In the oncology area, these modalities can help to | | | | participants in the trial, the average age was 60. Half |
| reduce side effects and thereby enhance a person's | | | | the people received chemotherapy and 84% endured |
| physical and/or emotional tolerance to treatment. | | | | surgery. Participants were enthusiastic and 95% of |
| People thus feel better during what might otherwise | | | | them completed the prescribed exercise course |
| be a very difficult period of cancer treatment. | | | | The exercise group was required to take walks daily |
| Fatigue is a common symptom during cancer | | | | and to try to increase the number of steps taken |
| treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation | | | | each day. They wore pedometers and kept a diary. |
| therapy. It can stem from the underlying illness, | | | | In addition, they were assigned to complete 11 |
| insomnia/sleep deprivation, anxiety, and/or the cancer | | | | resistance band exercises daily, performing one set |
| treatment itself. Helping people manage and reduce | | | | of eight to 15 repetitions daily and gradually increasing |
| fatigue is an important component in enhancing their | | | | to three to four sets. Results revealed an 82% |
| overall well-being. After all, oncologists strive to treat | | | | increase in the number of steps walked daily and the |
| the whole person and not just the disease. | | | | use of resistance bands an average of 3 1/2 days |
| The mechanism of fatigue in radiation therapy is not | | | | per week for 20 minutes at a moderate intensity |
| known. Often, it is not purely radiation treatment | | | | level. |
| induced, but rather, is due to one or more of the | | | | Those who exercised maintained their stamina during |
| factors outlined above. | | | | radiation therapy and improved their aerobic capacity. |
| In people with breast and prostate cancer, the | | | | Also, they were able to walk faster and further in |
| National Cancer Institute undertook a randomized | | | | only four weeks and they experienced less cancer |
| controlled study of cancer related fatigue in 38 | | | | related fatigue than the control group. In fact, the |
| individuals. 27 were women with breast cancer and 11 | | | | control subjects demonstrated a decline in their |
| were men with prostate cancer. All received at least | | | | baseline muscle strength. |
| 30 radiation treatments, five days a week for six | | | | The mechanism by which exercise alleviates fatigue is |
| weeks. | | | | not clear. Although this study is small and more clinical |
| Baseline tests to assess fatigue, strength, and | | | | trials will be helpful, the results suggest that when |
| cardiovascular heath were performed before the | | | | exercise is non-burdensome, safe and feasible, it |
| people received radiation therapy. The study | | | | serves as an inexpensive, valuable tool in improving |
| compared a half the people in the group who | | | | the quality of life of cancer survivors. |