Exercise is medicine.  Clearly I need to be careful with that statement given my aversion for cancer myths.  However, those who know me will totally get where I’m coming from, they will know that there is no way I am saying it cures cancer.  What I am saying is that the vast majority of doctors will tell you exercise is good for us but like me they must realise that it sometimes takes quite a bit of effort to get out there and do some! Apparently the older you get, the harder it becomes (I can confirm this is true!).  I did write about this in 2014 when I was doing an A to Z of terms way back then – notice the difference in quality of blog template!!! (Exercise – it’s a free prescription).  In fact, my blog was actually created to document my return to fitness and good health 12 months prior to that!

I was prompted to write the first version of this blog after discovering a piece of advice for NET patients with carcinoid syndrome. The advice is one of those catchy ‘single letter’ lists called the “5 E’s” of things to avoid – one of which is ‘Exercise’.  But the flaw in these so called 5 Es needs heavy contextualisation.  Everybody needs to do some even if it’s only a walk to the shops or some gardening.

There is a lot to be said for cancer patients to do some form of exercise and I know from my own experience, and from some really good on-line evidence, that it does have excellent therapeutic value. For example, it can keep your weight in check, makes you stronger and keeps you feeling youthful (mind over matter is also a good thing!). Can exercise can make you a happier person? I think this might be the case for some people, we are all different. In 2014, my wife and I committed to an 84-mile trek along Hadrian’s Wall in North England, and we spent 3-4 months preparing walking four times that distance. I was very thankful to her for continuously dragging my butt out of bed and into the forest close-by.  During this period, we both felt less stressed out, less anxious, we slept better, and we were generally happier. We continue to exercise together, mainly walking and cycling and we both benefit. I suspect there is some scientific evidence about why this happens i.e. exercise releases ‘happy chemicals’ into/interacting with your brain, mostly ‘Dopamine’ and ‘Endorphins’.  

There is evidence that exercise (in its widest definition) helps with anxiety, depression and helping cancer related fatigue (no matter how unintuitive that sounds).  Exercise can also be prescribed, I was having a bad time in 2013 and the doctor prescribed a free month’s membership of the local gymnasium.  Doctors are now prescribing managed exercise to make patients fitter prior to major surgery (something called ‘prehab’).  

In my own case, I’m currently non-syndromic since major surgery and monthly injections of Lanreotide. I therefore suspect the risk of exercise causing me problems is pretty low. In any event, I’m unlikely to indulge in anything really really strenuous! (although I do climb hills just to piss my cancer off!).

I also know many NET patients who exercise frequently.   However, I know from reading on-line forums that many people suffer from varying degrees of carcinoid syndrome and I suspect the 5 Es advice is directed to those who may be more at risk, those with active carcinoid syndrome, those with high levels of 5HIAA, those with carcinoid heart disease, those with catecholamine secreting tumours also need to be careful.  That said, I still believe most people would benefit from some exercise and this is something their doctors might advise on.

The scenery helps too

It’s not just about the exercise for me, I find the scenery surrounding the exercise really beneficial, this gives me a real boost.  Follow my Facebook page Ronny Allan to see more of my walking and scenery combined. 

Exercise safely people.  I’m off for another long walk in a scenic area! 

Thanks for reading