Thankfully, strength training offers additional help for those who are battling cancer. In the long term, strength training increases the chances of cancer survival.

A study from the Mayo Clinic Proceedings showed that regular strength training was linked with a 33% reduced risk of death over seven years for cancer survivors of various ages (Christensen, Spry, & Galvao, 2014). Strength training helps rebuild people after treatment. Among the benefits, post-treatment training helps rebuild muscle mass and strength, improve self-esteem, boost overall mood, increase energy levels, and develop a better quality of life (Cheema et al., 2007).

For those who are currently in cancer treatment, there are a few benefits. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, lead to a number of severe side effects: undesired weight loss, lost functional ability, nausea, fatigue, strength loss, and muscle atrophy. Strength training 2-3 times per week assists people through treatment in the following ways (Strasser et al., 2013):

• Less overall fatigue.
• Less muscle lost/regained muscle.
• Added upper and lower body strength.

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For those who are currently participating in treatment for cancer, seek your physician’s approval before participating. There isn’t one universal approach to strength training during cancer treatment.

Aim to keep the workouts short, gradually building intensity and adding exercises as your body successfully tolerates the previous amount. Training all major muscle groups is important, with the lower body being especially important for helping people perform their basic daily living functions (walking, standing from a chair, climbing stairs, etc.). When choosing training days, avoid days where the impacts of treatment are most severe.