Cancer Patients are helped by Astronaut Exercise programs

According to researchers the stress that is faced by cancer patients during cancer treatments like chemotherapy physically is very similar to astronaut exercise programs. Researchers have said that it is possible for cancer patients to explore these programs in order to help them prep for their strenuous treatments. The measures taken by the National Aeronautics and Space Association are being explored in order to see how it can be applied to cancer patients.

"It was surprising when we looked at similarities between astronauts during spaceflight and cancer patients during treatment. Both have a decrease in muscle mass, and they have bone demineralization and changes in heart function," said Jessica Scott, senior author and an exercise physiology researcher at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s Exercise Oncology Service. "Astronauts may get something called space fog, where they have trouble focusing or get a little forgetful. That's very similar to what some cancer patients’ experience, which is called chemo brain."
As both the sets of individuals face extremely different conditions, it is yet to be seen how this theory that was finalised by researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and NASA is to be implemented in the future.