Question

How is a cancer diagnosis considered a “teachable moment” with regard to developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle? What challenges are faced at various points along the cancer journey related to staying physically active? What are the benefits of staying as active as possible?

Answer 1

How is a cancer diagnosis considered a “teachable moment” with regard to developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

TEACHABLE MOMENTS are can lead to positive behavioural changes. Teachable moments are unplanned opportunities which are to be used for motivating and supporting individuals towards better future mentally and physically.Teachable moments are made between the patient's concern and a health behavior that attempts to motivate the patient toward change.

Cancer diagnosis is a “teachable moment” wherein many patients are highly motivated to make changes.Lifestyle modifications helps in maintaining a healthy body weight, incorporating physical activity and healthy eating habits have great potential in improving the healthstatus of cancer survivors. Healthcare professionals get an opportunity to engage cancer survivors and family in activities towards behavior change and the adoption or maintenance of healthful lifestyles whenever there is an unplanned meeting.

• Motivating individuals towards consuming healthy balanced diet , practising exercises for better physical health .Individual goals ,preference and practices may be different so specific programs should be conducted for similar groups.
• Systemize to identify the needs of individuals and prioritize for health programs which aids in improving screening activity. Referral to lifestyle interventions are to be done.
• Survivors are to be referred to lifestyle enhancing programs and also regular assessment and follow up services.

These all can be done in order to save the cancer survivors and also to prevent cancer.

What challenges are faced at various points along the cancer journey related to staying physically active?

In olden times people with chronic devastating illnesses are adviced to take rest and limit physical activity.Plenty of rest can make the individual lazy, sad and also it may end up in loss of body function, muscle weakness, and reduced range of motion.The goal to stay active healthy.Low intensity exercises are advisable like short distance walking .

Sometimes cancer may make patients very weak and problems like osteoporosis, arthritis, fragile bones may develop. So in these cases a caregiver should accompany the individual to prevent from falls and fractures. Cancer patients will be feeling weak so physical activity initiated will help them to recover from depression .

What are the benefits of staying as active as possible?

• Individual's self esteem and confidence improves.
• Reduces anxiety and depression
• Weight management can be done
• Appetite will increase , nausea may reduce
• Blood flow increases which helps in relieving fatigue
• Physical ability is improved
• Social connections may be acquired
• Totally quality of life improves.

(Physical activity and cancer patient, American cancer society)