Lung Cancer, Exercise, and Misconceptions

To process the dos and don'ts of staying in good health is complicated. So, what does that mean? What exactly is good health if you've been afflicted with lung cancer or lung disease?

The disease and what is part of the progression is not a good thing, but it also depends on the patient, and every patient is very different. The idea of giving the body what it still needs despite it acting up is necessary.

I call it the "Tainted Thought," the perception of no longer thriving for perfect health when, clearly, you've been diagnosed with cancer, so what is the point?

Embracing a healthier lifestyle

Though there's the up-and-down spiral of life, striving for a healthier lifestyle is still something to aspire towards. The body is like a sponge, reacting to the love you give it.

When we hear people state that they've smoked for over 20 years, what is the point of stopping smoking? Some feel the damage is done, and that's that.

Well, it can make a difference as the sponge, which is the body, can still react positively with healthy change. When one decides to quit smoking with lung cancer, it can help improve life expectancy and lessen the growth of cancerous tumors.

Wellness and your cancer journey

Fatigue is a huge issue with patient thrivers in that much of their energy fighting to survive with treatment and scans takes its toll on the energy factor. There is a misconception about what moving forward with exercise and cancer looks like.

It does not mean staying in a gym 6 hours a day or eating only kale juice. If this is your journey, it's important to look outside the box and zone into what you enjoy doing. Perhaps your fitness journey is all about walking from point A to point B, so much as this routine helps improve lung capacity.

Providing your body with something positive despite the situation, if anything, is a start. It's about how to change lemons into lemonade by shifting the recipe so that the result is sweet and fulfilling.

Physical activity options

Another misconception is you can't do anything physical other than walking. Of course, each person is different, and instruction from your doctor is how you best move forward.

Perhaps some activities may not be the best fit based on the level of your cancer, and you may need to proceed with sensible alternatives in achieving mobility. There are many exercise options  other than walking, such as:

Stretching

Stretching exercises that use certain equipment, such as a resistance band. The band helps strengthen the muscle and is a functional stretching source.

Strength training

Using low-moderate impact training helps with a full-body outcome. Full-body training is a great way to strengthen muscles effectively. For example, forward and side lunges work the lower back, quadriceps, hamstrings, and knees.

Breathing techniques

Watching your breath endurance with possible breathing issues with lung cancer is important; there are options to help delve further and incorporate techniques into your day-to-day, such as diaphragmatic breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing is belly breathing with intentional breaths that help strengthen the diaphragm.

All mentioned are options, and working with your doctor and a performance trainer is a good source of breaking down those misconceptions and building in a practice that is best for you.

 The time to fight is now, with integrity, grace, hope, and a smile...when you feel like it.