11/21/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
Breast cancer survivors will not only benefit physically from exercise, but also mentally. In a study published in the Journal of Cancer Science & Therapy, researchers discovered that long hikes can sustainably improve the mental health, level of physical activity, and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
The researchers, who were from the University Hospital of Cologne and German Sport University Cologne in Germany and Australian Catholic University in Australia, looked at how a six-week long hike can improve the level of physical activity and mental health of breast cancer patients. They aimed to enhance breast cancer survivors’ self-trust through a major challenge, which was to hike along the Way of St. James, one of the widely known long-distance trails in the world.
For the study, the research team recruited 45 breast cancer survivors who had completed their primary treatment. They divided the participants into two groups: a control group and an intervention group. The control group did not receive any intervention, while the intervention group was tasked to hike for more than 840 km in six weeks. Before the actual hike, the intervention group first underwent an eight-week plan.
The researchers measured the level of physical activity, quality of life, anxiety, and depression of the participants before the eight-week preparation period; right after the six-week hike; and one year after the six-week hike.
The findings showed that hiking increased the level of physical activity of breast cancer survivors during the entire study period. In addition, those in the intervention group experienced great improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, and overall quality of life, both during and after the hike.
Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that long hikes can potentially enhance the level of physical activity, quality of life, and mental well-being of breast cancer survivors.
It is common for many cancer survivors to have mixed feelings after treatment. Many cancer survivors will feel relieved, but some may also feel anxious or uncertain about the future or less positive about their health. This might be due to the cancer itself or its treatment has caused adverse side effects or physical changes. It might also be because their relationship with other people, be it family, friends, or colleagues, has changed. Here are five things cancer survivors should know about their mental health:
Read more news stories and studies on natural post-cancer treatments by going to CancerSolutions.news.
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Tagged Under: Anxiety, breast cancer, cancer survivors, depression, exercise, fitness, hiking, mental health, natural healing, physical activity, remedies, slender