Celebrate Mother's Day After Cancer Surgery With Gentle, Meaningful Activities That Honor Your Healing, Embrace Love, And Bring Peace To Your Special Day.
For Everyone Touched By Cancer
Exercise, once seen as an optional activity, is now recognized as a vital element that can significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. It offers more than just physical benefits—exercise can improve emotional well-being, support treatment outcomes, and contribute to long-term recovery.
At the forefront of this evolving field is Dr. Mhairi Morris, a Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at Loughborough University, whose research is centered on the intersection of exercise and cancer care. Dr. Morris has spent years studying the intricate ways that exercise can influence cancer biology, particularly in relation to the tumor microenvironment. Her work offers compelling insights into how physical activity can not only improve a patient’s quality of life but also enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
During her recent webinar for Cancer Care Parcel (below), Dr. Morris shared her extensive research findings, highlighting the benefits of exercise throughout the cancer continuum. From the moment of diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship, exercise can provide meaningful improvements in both physical and emotional well-being. Dr. Morris emphasized that exercise should not be viewed as an optional add-on but as an essential part of comprehensive cancer care.
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery often leave patients feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. Regular physical activity can help manage these side effects by boosting energy levels, improving sleep, and lifting mood. Beyond these psychological benefits, exercise has been shown to influence the body’s biological processes, helping patients regain strength, maintain mobility, and recover more effectively during and after treatment.
The integration of exercise into cancer care goes beyond general fitness. Research shows that exercise can directly impact cancer progression and the effectiveness of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. By increasing blood flow and oxygenation, exercise can help these therapies reach cancer cells more effectively. Additionally, it is believed that exercise helps regulate hormone levels and reduce inflammation, both of which are critical factors in certain cancer types.
A particularly promising area of research examines how exercise alters the tumor microenvironment—the complex network of cells and molecules surrounding a tumor. Dr. Morris’s work highlights that physical activity can make this environment less conducive to cancer growth, potentially making tumors more responsive to treatment. These findings suggest that exercise could be an important addition to cancer treatment plans.
Exercise also plays a significant role in supporting immune function, which is often compromised during cancer treatment. Studies have shown that regular physical activity enhances the activity of immune cells, such as natural killer cells, T-cells, and macrophages, all of which are responsible for detecting and destroying cancer cells. By strengthening the immune system, exercise can help the body recover more efficiently and potentially improve treatment outcomes.
For many cancer patients, the idea of incorporating exercise into their routine can feel overwhelming. However, the key is to start slowly and gradually increase activity levels based on individual health and treatment stages. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, along with strength training exercises, for cancer patients. This could include activities such as brisk walking, swimming, or light weight training.
It’s important that these exercise plans are personalized. Healthcare professionals often advise working with specialists such as exercise physiologists or cancer rehabilitation experts to create a plan tailored to the patient’s specific condition, energy levels, and treatment goals. Even gentle exercises like stretching or walking can help patients build strength and regain confidence in their physical abilities.
Dr. Morris’s research delves into the physiological changes that occur during exercise, such as improved blood flow, reduced inflammation, and enhanced immune function. These changes can help the body respond better to cancer treatments and may even slow the progression of the disease. For example, regular exercise has been shown to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, while also improving patients' resilience and overall health.
Beyond her lab work, Dr. Morris has contributed significantly to the practical application of exercise in cancer care. Her systematic reviews and meta-analyses have provided valuable evidence on the role of different exercise interventions in improving fitness, physical function, and quality of life for cancer patients. These reviews highlight how exercise can be tailored to meet the specific needs of cancer patients, offering guidance on the types, intensities, and frequencies of activity that are most beneficial.
By bridging the gap between research and practice, Dr. Morris is helping to shape new guidelines for integrating exercise into cancer care. Her work not only provides hope for improved outcomes but also offers patients a sense of control and empowerment during their treatment journey.
LinkedIn: @mhairi-morris/
