Exercise Helps Protect Your Heart
Breast cancer treatments (like chemotherapy and targeted drugs) can damage the heart. But research shows that regular exercise can lower this risk. Women who stay active during and after treatment have fewer heart problems than those who don’t exercise.
Even light exercise, like walking or stretching, can help. The more consistent you are, the better your heart health.
How Exercise Helps
Here’s what exercise does for your body:
- Keep your heart and lungs strong.
- Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Helps with blood sugar and weight control.
- Reduces inflammation.
- May lower your risk of cancer coming back.
It is recommended to aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity each week (like brisk walking) plus 2 days of strength training.
Cancer Treatments Can Be Tough on the Heart – Here’s How to Reduce the Damage
Some breast cancer treatments, like anthracyclines and trastuzumab (Herceptin) or left-side radiation, can weaken the heart. This might happen right away, or even years later.
But there are ways to protect your heart:
- Exercise during and after treatment helps your heart stay strong and reduces short and long term side effects.
- Regular heart checkups (like echocardiograms) help catch problems early.
- Some people use natural supplements (like CoQ10 or omega-3s), but always talk to your doctor first – a dietitian and naturopath may be also able to assist.
Next Steps
If you’re a breast cancer survivor or warrior, staying active is one of the best ways to protect your heart. You don’t need to run marathons – just move more, eat well, and follow your health care team’s advice. Small steps can lead to a stronger, healthier life.
For more information and help today, speak to our Exercise Physiologist, Alana, who specialises in helping people move beyond their cancer diagnosis.