FAMILY and friends could be doing more harm than good by telling loved ones with cancer to rest and ‘take it easy’ a leading cancer charity has warned.
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| Families and friends have been advised to help loved-ones to stay active after cancer diagnosis |
When the patient is going through treatment and recovery, families should instead encourage exercise, Macmillan Cancer Support.
The charity said carrying out physical exercise would help aid recovery.
The call comes as a survey conducted by YouGov for Macmillan Cancer Support found just over 60 per cent of people living with cancer say that having family and friends as company when exercising would do more to help them become more physically active.
This has greater impact than any other factor such as cheap gym membership or advice on fitting physical activity into daily life.
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| Cancer patients appreciated support when it comes to physical activity, says study |
Over 1,000 patients took part in the survey and one in four said they had not done any physical activity which increased their heart rate in the last week.
One in five of those surveyed also said people did not feel confident about becoming more active than they currently are.
Londoner Ailsa Tims, 50, was diagnosed with breast cancer and says physical activity has been key to her return to fitness. She said: “It’s been a decade long recovery because of complications, but without my husband Simon’s encouragement, it would have been even longer.
“He bought us bicycles and we’ve had great fun out cycling and spending days out walking. My friends also got me into running.
“Exercise was not in my vocabulary before cancer, but I was feeling like damaged goods after cancer and it gave me back control. It’s a massively positive way to get your life back into balance.”
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| Physiotherapy and exercise can have numerous benefits to cancer patients |
Health experts have backed the calls for family to give positive advice thanks to the growing body of evidence suggesting physical activity manages the side-effects and consequences of cancer treatment, and could reduce the risk of the disease returning or worsening.
Despite this evidence, many family and friends are more likely to encourage someone to rest, according to figures.
Arry Beresford-Webb, Macmillan Wales Physical Activity Manager, said: "Being physically active is a hugely important part of someone's recovery from cancer, and family and friends must make sure that no one faces this often long, hard journey alone.
"It's natural to tell people to take it easy when they have cancer, but we know that this isn't the best thing for many people. By encouraging someone with cancer to get active, family and friends can play an invaluable part in helping them get their life back.
"It is vital for both individuals, as well as the future of the NHS that people with cancer are able to take control of their health."
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| It is vital that people take control of their health, say health experts |
Professor Jane Maher, Joint Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support and leading clinical oncologist said: "I would advise my own patients to consider getting active at any stage; whether they are in the middle of treatment or on the road to recovery. Everybody is different, and we are not telling everyone to go rushing about in Lycra; just doing a few exercises or walking a few more steps each day can make a big difference to people with cancer.
"As healthcare professionals we have an important role in advising people with cancer to get moving, and because of the undeniable case for being active, this is increasingly being recognised. But we can't underestimate the role that loved ones play in encouraging and supporting people with cancer in this way.
"The evidence is there and we simply can't ignore it. Being physically active could very well save your life - and this is the message we should be getting out to people affected by this horrible disease."
Macmillan Cancer Support has developed a Move More support pack, and its own physical activity scheme that are both designed to help people with cancer get active to a level that is right for them.
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