Cancer survivors remains unaffected!

The level of cardiovascular fitness among cancer survivors remains unaffected by therapies, say researchers."We know physical activity is a critical component of cancer survivorship, both during and after cancer treatment," says Jennifer LeMoine, a post-doctoral research fellow at Georgetown University (GU). In order to prescribe an exercise programme, it's critical that we understand our patient's fitness level and whether or not treatment has had an impact on their cardiovascular health," she said.
Researchers conducted a chart review of 49 women who attended a physician-directed fitness clinic for cancer survivors, founded and run by Priscilla Furth, the study's co-author.The data included demographics, physical activity levels and cancer treatment type, duration and time since their treatment.
Fitness assessments were conducted using a three-minute step test during a clinic visit. The purpose of the study was to access the step test as a way of determining a patient's current cardiovascular fitness level.Overall, 33 per cent of the survivors were sedentary and 67 per cent reported being physically active. Thirty-five or 71 per cent of the participants completed the step-test. Test completion and heart rate recovery were not affected by treatment or age.The findings were presented at the American College of Sports Medicine in Seattle.