Exercise for Cancer Flashcards
What is cancer?
Cancer involves the uncontrollable growth of cells.
What are some common treatments for cancer?
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
What issues can cancer treatments cause in patients?
- Nausea
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Cardiotoxicity
What percentage of late-stage cancer patients develop cachexia?
Up to 80%
What is cachexia?
A state of muscle wasting.
What causes muscle loss in cancer patients?
Partly due to mitochondrial dysfunction caused by cancer.
What does dysfunctional mitochondria activate that contributes to muscle loss?
Chronic activation of AMPK, which inhibits mTOR and activates FOXO.
How is exercise viewed in relation to cancer?
Exercise is considered a protective measure against the negative impacts of cancer and its treatment.
How can exercise affect the immune response to tumors?
It can help move tumors from an immune desert to an immune-inflamed state.
Which immune cells are attracted to tumors through exercise?
- CD3
- CD8
- Gamma IFN-y
What is the effect of exercise on the p-53 tumor suppressor gene?
Exercise may activate the p-53 tumor suppressor gene, potentially leading to apoptosis of cancer cells.
What is the relationship between exercise and the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding cancer cells?
Exercise can lead to laxity of the ECM, potentially reducing tumor growth.
What is angiogenesis?
Blood vessel formation around the tumor.
What are the conflicting views on exercise’s effect on angiogenesis?
- Decreased vascularity can starve the tumor
- Increased vascularity can improve chemotherapy drug delivery
How does exercise improve cancer treatment outcomes?
- Greater immune cell activity
- Smaller tumors
- Near complete and complete treatment responses
What types of exercise have been shown to improve the well-being of cancer patients?
- Aerobic exercise
- Resistance exercise
What benefits does aerobic exercise provide for cancer patients?
- Reduces pain and fatigue
- May improve VO2 max
What can resistance exercise help reduce in cancer patients?
Numbness and tingling associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
Who should consider exercise as an important intervention?
- General population
- Cancer patients pre-treatment
- Cancer patients undergoing treatment
- Healthcare professionals
What should future research on exercise and cancer focus on?
- Large human study analyses
- Randomized controlled trials
- Tailoring interventions for special populations
- Molecular and immune-level interactions
Fill in the blank: Exercise is considered important for the _______ population as a protective measure against cancer’s negative impacts.
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