Physical activity

• Gentle physical activity can help to maintain or improve your strength and fitness. It may also help you feel better, and cope better with treatment.
• But it can be hard to be active when you have pancreatic cancer.
• Try to do some gentle exercise when you can. This could be things like going for a walk, light housework or gardening.
• It is important to exercise within your own limits. Take it easy and only do what you are able to do.
• Speak to your doctor or nurse before starting any kind of exercise plan. They can advise you on what type of activities are best for you, and any safety issues to be aware of.

For most people, doing gentle exercise when they are able to would be suitable. This could include:

• going for a short walk
• light housework or gardening
• sitting in a chair or lying on a bed or the floor, raising your leg, and holding it for a few seconds, before lowering it and repeating a few times
• lifting some small weights, tins of food or bottles of water, while sitting in a chair
• walking up and down a few steps.

If you usually do a lot of exercise, you may wish to do more than this. Speak to your doctor or physiotherapist before doing vigorous exercise.

If you are in hospital, doing some activity can help your fitness. This can help once you leave hospital. For example, you could try walking along the corridor once a day.

Macmillan Cancer Support has a lot of information about keeping active.