Gyms tailor offerings to cancer patients

While the data about exercise helping reduce risk of cancer has been out for a while, the idea that exercise can help during cancer treatment is gaining more and more traction. In fact, some gyms are tailoring their offerings specifically to people living with cancer and experiencing effects of treatment such as lymphedema and cancer-related fatigue.

The exercise classes are supported by many leading cancer centers in their localities, such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. For example, in Philadelphia, Fox Chase is working with the gym Curves to see if breast cancer patients can stick to an exercise routine during treatment.

While people undergoing treatment for cancer often have to be careful about exercising too vigorously or jumping into a routine especially if they have not been active for a while, the programs are not only a means of exercise, but could be a valuable source of social support from people who may not want to participate in a support group. Of course, anyone undergoing treatment or with a chronic condition should speak to their doctor before starting an exercise program. But with millions of cancer survivors in the United States, gyms are smart to try to capture this growing and unique audience.