Exercises That Improve Quality of Life With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Types of Exercise for Metastatic Breast Cancer

A wide variety of exercises offer health benefits for people with metastatic breast cancer.

“In general, I encourage patients to think about exercise as a combination of aerobic activity, strength training, flexibility work, and mindful movement,” Dr. Wei says. “The right mix depends on a person’s diagnosis, symptoms, treatment plan, and fitness level, but most people can benefit from incorporating some form of each.”

Aerobic Activity

Aerobic activity, sometimes referred to as cardio, is any type of physical activity that increases your heart rate.

According to a research review of 45 studies involving more than 4,000 participants, aerobic activity has been found to have the following health benefits for people with breast cancer:

  • Increased metabolism
  • Improved blood circulation
  • Increased immunity
  • Reduced symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, and depression
  • Improved quality of life

Walking is often one of the easiest and most accessible forms of cardiovascular exercise, says Wei.

Guidelines call for people living with cancer to build up to at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as walking, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity (or a combination of the two) per week.

“The goal is to start with 10 to 15 minutes of walking three or four days a week and building gradually,” says Jessica Scott, PhD, the director of the exercise oncology program and an associate attending at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Other forms of aerobic activity include:

  • Jogging
  • Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Running
  • Dancing
  • Gardening
  • Jumping rope
  • Playing sports

Your surgeon may temporarily restrict activities such as swimming immediately after surgery until incisions are fully healed, says Nasim Chowdhury, MD, the medical director of cancer rehabilitation at Weill Cornell Medicine and an attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City. “However, patients should not be fearful of returning to exercise once medically cleared,” he says. “Remaining active is one of the most important things that patients can do for their long-term health.”

Strength Training

Strength training can help counteract the muscle loss and weakness that can occur with metastatic breast cancer and its treatment, Wei says.

Studies show that strength training supports bone health, helps prevent and manage breast cancer-related lymphedema, improves cancer-related fatigue, and increases quality of life.

Dr. Chowdhury says that for individuals receiving hormone therapy, resistance training becomes especially important because some treatments can contribute to bone loss and osteoporosis.

Wei suggests starting with simple strength-training exercises such as going from sitting in a chair to standing, wall push-ups, body-weight squats, and resistance-band exercises. “Many patients don’t need a gym membership or heavy weights to benefit,” she says. “In general, I encourage strength training two or three times per week, with adjustments as needed based on a person’s symptoms, recovery, and physical abilities.”

Stretching

Stretching can be especially important for people who have had surgery or radiation, which may contribute to tightness and reduced range of motion in the chest, shoulders, and arms, Wei says. “Gentle stretching can help improve flexibility, comfort, posture, and everyday function,” she says.

Wei recommends easy movements like shoulder rolls, chest stretches, and wall walks.

“I generally advise patients to stretch after their muscles are warmed up and to focus on gentle movement and deep breathing, rather than pushing through pain,” Wei says. “If a particular stretch causes significant discomfort, it’s worth discussing with a rehabilitation specialist.”

Mindful Movement Practices

Research has consistently shown that there are significant benefits to mindful movement practices like yoga for people with breast cancer, including improved sleep, boosted mood, and help with relief from symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and anxiety.

Similarly, tai chi, an ancient Chinese exercise that focuses on gentle, flowing movements along with deep breathing, has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue in people with breast cancer.

Yoga and tai chi may be particularly beneficial for balance, coordination, and fall prevention, Chowdhury says. “This can be especially valuable for individuals experiencing balance impairments from chemotherapy-induced nerve problems,” he says.

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