Key Takeaway: ASCO has issued a new guideline on exercise 🏃♂️, diet 🍎, and weight management 👍 during active cancer treatment. The guideline says exercise can help you cope with treatment side effects and recommends avoiding neutropenic diets. 😊
Did you know that exercise and diet can play a significant role in your cancer treatment journey? According to a new guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), regular exercise and proper nutrition can help prevent cancer and improve outcomes for those undergoing cancer treatment. 🏃♂️🥗
The ASCO guideline, based on a systematic review of the evidence, provides recommendations on exercise, diet, and weight management during active cancer treatment. It aims to help patients and clinicians make informed decisions about lifestyle changes that can improve quality of life, treatment toxicity, and cancer control. 📚
The guideline states that oncology providers should recommend regular aerobic and resistance exercise during active treatment with curative intent. Exercise can help reduce fatigue, preserve fitness, improve physical function, enhance mood, and boost the immune system. 🏋️♀️💪 It also lowers the risk of infection, complications, and recurrence.
The experts suggest 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 times a week and strength training 2 to 3 times a week. Activities can include walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or lifting weights. You can also join a supervised exercise program or get a referral to an exercise physiologist or physical therapist who specializes in cancer care. 🚴♂️🏊♀️
Regarding diet, the guideline does not recommend neutropenic diets, which exclude raw fruits and vegetables, to prevent infection in patients with cancer during active treatment. These diets may limit important nutrients and bioactive compounds and have no proven benefit in reducing infection risk. 🍎🥦 Instead, patients should follow food safety practices endorsed by the US Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the general population.
The guideline does not provide specific recommendations on other dietary interventions, such as ketogenic or low-carbohydrate diets, low-fat diets, functional foods, or fasting, as the evidence for these interventions is very limited and inconclusive. 🧐
The guideline also does not provide recommendations on intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain during active treatment, as the evidence for these interventions is limited and uncertain. It emphasizes the need for more research on diet and weight management interventions during cancer treatment, especially regarding their impact on cancer outcomes such as recurrence or survival. 🔬
Exercise is not only good for your body, but also for your mind. 💆♂️ It can help you cope with stress, anxiety, and depression that often come with a cancer diagnosis. It can also improve your cognitive function and memory, which may be affected by some treatments. 🧠
Oncology providers play an essential role in encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors in their patients receiving cancer treatment. So, start making some changes in your diet and exercise today! 🌟 It could make you feel better physically and mentally, and it may even improve your chances of beating cancer. 💖
Do you have any questions or tips about diet and exercise during cancer treatment? Share them in the comments below! 💬 We would love to hear from you! 😊
