Are there special precautions survivors should consider?
Issues for cancer survivors may prevent or affect their ability to exercise. Some effects of treatment may increase the risk for exercise-related injuries and other effects. For example, survivors with severe anemia (low red blood cell counts) should delay activity until the anemia is improved; people with weakened immune function should avoid public gyms and other public places until their white blood cell counts return to safe levels; those getting radiation should avoid swimming pools because chlorine exposure may irritate irradiated skin. For those who were inactive before diagnosis, low-intensity activities should be started and slowly advanced. For older people and those with bone disease (due to spread of cancer to the bones or to osteoporosis), arthritis, or nerve damage, caution should be used to reduce the risk for falls and injuries.
