Dr. Kerry Courneya

So, you know, we're putting patients on treadmills.

We have to be careful that they're going to be able to do that type of exercise.

And then side effects like, like I say, like diarrhea, skin irritation.

You know, we get into cancers like rectal cancer and anal cancer.

That whole area down there gets radiated.

They get radiation burns there.

And movements with clothing and stuff can be... Patients can get dry mouth and stuff from exercise.

And it can lead to increases in diarrhea and stuff as well.

So we're just working with the patients with other symptoms they're experiencing and making sure that we're not exacerbating those symptoms.

I guess probably one of these activity trackers or fitness trackers might be very helpful.

And there's a lot of research right now trying to develop mobile apps for exercise and cancer survivors.

One of my own PhD students looking at a mobile app and seeing whether or not it might be helpful for breast cancer survivors.

So we'll see, I think, some of these technological things that might be available to help cancer survivors get a regular exercise.

I'd probably go with the strength training and probably go with some of the heavier lifting strength training, the squats and the compound exercise you've talked about.

I think what we're seeing is this idea of lean muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass being extremely important for getting through these treatments, predicting recurrence, predicting survival, strong associations with physical functioning and quality of life.

So I think targeting the muscle mass, if you've only got 15 minutes, that's probably how I would spend my time.

Yeah.

And the American Cancer Society is a great resource as well.

They've got a lot of information on exercise for patients and survivors.

My pleasure.