“… patients with newly diagnosed, potentially curable pancreatic cancer can indeed adhere to a regimen of preoperative exercise, or prehabilitation.
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In my experience, newly diagnosed cancer patients can get caught up in thinking that high-tech medicine is everything.
I think the most low-tech therapies can benefit cancer patients the most. The articles linked and excerpted below state that prehabilitating before chemo, radiation or surgery can result in pancreatic cancer patients doing better.
My mom recently fell and broke her hip. She’s fine. But the key to remaining living independently will be her ability to rehabilitate. Obviously mom didn’t know that she was going to fall and break a hip. But if she had known, she would have “pre-habilitated.” She would have prepared for her surgery and coming physical rehab.
If you have been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer whether you have surgery, chemo or radiation you can prepare or pre-babilitate.
I am a long-term survivor of a different but equally complicated cancer. I rely on evidence-based, non-conventional therapies to keep me in complete remission.
Have you been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? Are you eligible for Whipple surgery? Are you considering undergoing chemo? Scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply ASAP.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
“Preoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiation can benefit patients with localized pancreatic cancer, but such regimens may exacerbate an already high symptom burden and diminish patients’ functional status…
“Patients with pancreatic cancer can rapidly get debilitated, even when their tumor burden is small,”…“Unlike patients with colon or breast cancer—who can have widespread metastatic disease and still be completely functional—patients with pancreatic cancer can have a 1-cm tumor and be cachectic and profoundly ill…”
Dr. Katz and colleagues are investigating an individualized exercise program for pancreatic cancer patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy. The researchers have already demonstrated that despite the high symptom burden, patients with newly diagnosed, potentially curable pancreatic cancer can indeed adhere to a regimen of preoperative exercise, or prehabilitation.
In addition, the researchers’ preclinical data indicate that the exercise program could increase chemotherapy efficacy…
“The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has issued a new guideline on exercise, diet, and weight management during active cancer treatment in adults.
The main endorsement was for oncology providers to recommend aerobic and resistance exercise to patients who are undergoing active treatment with curative intent, in order to mitigate side effects associated with therapy…
Physical Activity
Supporting the recommendation on physical activity is evidence showing that exercise interventions during active treatment reduce fatigue, preserve cardiorespiratory fitness, physical functioning, and strength, the authors note. Among some patient groups, exercise during active treatment may also improve quality of life and reduce anxiety and depression…
J Clin Oncol. Published online May 16, 2022. Full text
10 Ways to Prepare for Surgery
- Be your best.
- Familiarize yourself with the surgery.
- Speak up.
- Learn about anesthesia.
- Ask about your diet.
- Know what to expect after surgery.
- Practice relaxation techniques.
- Plan for medications.
- Prepare your home.
- Pack a bag.
“BACKGROUND: Probiotics are live microorganisms, which as drugs or food supplements help to maintain health beneficial microbial balance in the digestive tract of a human or other host. Probiotics by their properties may help strengthen homeostasis and thus reduce side effects associated with cancer treatment. Experimental evidence suggests that probiotics might have beneficial effect on the toxicity of anticancer therapy…
Despite limited data, it seems that probiotic bacteria as live microorganisms could be safely administered even in the setting of neutropenia…“
