Exercise in the rehabilitation from cancer.

xercise is good for everyone, even patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer or who are recovering from cancer treatment. However, this was not always obvious. In 1988, Meryl Winningham rocked the cancer community with her groundbreaking series of studies of women undergoing chemothera-py for breast cancer. Women who were randomized to a bicycle exercise group experienced less chemotherapy-induced nausea both over time and as compared to nonexercise control groups. What was so revolutionary 18 years ago seems so obvious today. In a growing body of research that has investigated exercise in patients with cancer, dramatic improvements in physiological and psychological functioning have been documented in patients participating in aerobic exercise programs. Over 150 studies have been published showing the nearly universal benefits of exercise in this patient Note: The author reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education article. Notes: This column is made possible through an educational grant from C-Change, a Washington, DC, based organization comprising the nation's key cancer leaders from government , business, and nonprofit sectors. These cancer leaders share the vision of a future where cancer is prevented, detected early, and cured or is managed successfully as a chronic illness. The mission of C-Change is to leverage the combined expertise and resources of its members to eliminate cancer as a (major) public health problem at the earliest possible time. C-Change is both a forum and a catalyst for identifying issues and major challenges facing the cancer community and for initiating collaborative actions to complement the efforts of individual C-Change members. Medical-Surgical nurses are invited to learn more about this important organization by visiting www.c-change-together.org Disclaimer: The views of this author are her own and do not purport to reflect the position of the Army Medical Department, Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense. SERIES More and more, the media are emphasizing the benefits of exercise as a method of health promotion, disease prevention, and maintaining quality of life. However, we often do not think about patients with serious or chronic illnesses, such as cancer, as the perfect candidates for exercise. In this issue, Dr. Stacey Young-McCaughan shares her expertise about the importance and benefits of exercise for patients with cancer.