It has found that lung cancer patients who exercise after surgery to remove a tumour experience increased fitness and strength in their leg muscles as well as a decrease in shortness of breath compared to those who are inactive.
Exercise training undertaken by people within 12 months of lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer,’ published in the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, studied whether exercise was beneficial for people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and who had a lung resection in the past 12 months.
Lead author of the study Dr Vinicius Cavalheri, said lung cancer continued to be a growing problem, and NSCLC is particularly significant, making up more than 85 per cent of all cases globally. It has found that the exercise gives a great effect on both endurance and strength. Some patients even improved their physical fitness level compared to before removing part of or a whole lung.
