Couch to cure.

Patients are coming to us full of the resolution that comes with a new year. So we all take time to discuss exercise during cancer treatment, right? Riiiight. Although patients feel pretty strongly that nutrition and exercise are important during cancer treatment, there’s a fat chance their doctors actually talk about it. Patients, just like everybody else, crave a plan for exercise. Cardio? Power-lifting? Pure Barre? In the general population, 30 minutes of moderate activity each day seems to have the same overall health benefit as more strenuous exercise, though strength training may be helpful in patients at risk for bone or muscle loss. Counseling on physical activity is now incorporated into national guidelines so it’s probably worth finding a couple of specific exercise regimens to give your patients, especially if she is sitting in your waiting room.