Marathon Running During Chemotherapy: Where Are the Limits?

This case report is in line with the current opinion, namely to allow and promote exercise even during cancer treatment. A regular exercise program can help patients to reduce the negative effects of cancer and its treatment, improve their stamina and mood, and increase their quality of life. However, what applies for training does not always apply for competition: a marathon race is an extreme event that has been associated with musculoskeletal injuries, heat stroke or hypothermia, thrombosis, dilutional hyponatremia, transient ventricular dysfunction and elevated troponin concentration, and increased risk of coronary artery calcification. Therefore, participation at a marathon race requires a long and careful preparation. What is possible is not necessarily recommendable. However, we congratulate both the patient and the medical team for their courage and their willingness to reach for new frontiers. This successful story suggests that we should reevaluate our ideas about the ability of cancer patients to perform physical exercise.