Prehabilitation - Rehabilitation

Preparation for and recovery following cancer treatment

Cancer treatment can be very challenging for your body and mind. Major surgery, for example, has been compared to running a marathon. Evidence shows that preparing yourself and actively improving your physical and mental health before treatment – also known as prehabilitation - can help you recover more quickly from surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and reduce the chance of further problems during and after your treatment, as well as many other benefits. Our Prehabilitation-Rehabilitation programme involves support in three key areas: physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.

Patients can access both face-to-face and online support through either your clinical team or the Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre.

Please be aware that most patients will be referred automatically to our digital partner Alvie who will contact you via text message and telephone call to tell you more about their offer. You are under no obligation and can opt out at any stage.

How to access prehabilitation-rehabilitation | Where are the sessions held? | Benefits of physical activity | Online support (Alvie app) | Exercise in preparation for and after cancer treatment | Nutrition | Wellbeing

How to access Prehabilitation-Rehabilitation

Your clinician or cancer nurse specialist may speak with you about Prehabilitation-Rehabilitation during one of your appointments in preparation for treatment. They may advise you to access Prehabilitation-Rehabilitation or you may feel that it may be appropriate for you. Please contact the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre directly to make arrangements. The Centre will liaise with your clinical team to ensure that the exercise is right for you, and if so they will complete a referral form with a view to you starting on the programme as soon as possible prior to your treatment.

You are entitled to ten sessions of exercise classes at no cost to yourself (funding is provided by the Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity). These do not have to be in consecutive weeks: for instance you may have some sessions prior to treatment and/ or take breaks during treatment. Places are limited so if you are unable to attend, please contact the instructor. Once you have completed the first ten sessions, your instructor will discuss further options with you so that you can carry on with the fitness programme if you feel it would be beneficial.

When you make contact with the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre, please ask if there are other ways in which you may aid your preparation and recovery: there are, for instance, specific exercise activities to assist people undergoing treatment for breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Tel: 01473 715748, e-mail: cancer.support@esneft.nhs.uk. 

Where are classes held?

The exercise classes are held weekly. Details will be provided when you have registered for the programme. If you are unable to travel, please aim to use the video which you can find further down this webpage. You are encouraged to attend “in person” if possible as you will meet others who have a cancer diagnosis and you may find that this can provide you with additional support.

Online Support using the Alvie app

Please see below summary information about online support before, during and after treatment. Most patients will be referred automatically to our digital partner Alvie who will contact you via text message and telephone call to tell you more about their offer. You are under no obligation and can opt out at any stage.

Benefits of physical activity

Physical activity is part of prehabilitation-rehabilitation.  It can help:

• Reduce your length of stay in hospital

• Enhance your recovery after treatment

• Reduce complications after treatment

• Enhance your quality of life

• Help you take greater control

Exercise in preparation for and after cancer treatment

These classes are offered weekly and continue after treatment once you feel ready to restart exercise.

The video below broadly follows the structure of the face to face weekly prehabilitation-prehabilitation exercise class and we encourage you to do some or all of this workout at home once or twice per week. Remember though, even some movement is better than none.

How hard should I work?

We recommend you keep to a moderate intensity. Generally speaking you will be working at the right level of intensity if you can talk but can’t sing whilst you are exercising.

Advisory

We have taken reasonable endeavours to ensure that the content of these classes is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate and suitable for most people. However, it is not tailored to any specific characteristic or person. Before following and undertaking the exercises here, you (and anyone else taking part) should consult with a health professional and/or your GP if you: consider it necessary; have any concerns about your health; are not sure whether the exercises are suitable; have any pre-existing health problems, injuries, or any current symptoms. Undertaking these exercises is at your own risk. You should stop exercising immediately and seek medical attention if you should feel any discomfort. We shall not be held liable or responsible for any injury, loss or damage of any kind (including, (without limitation) any direct, special, indirect or consequential damages) arising out of or in connection with the use of this exercise class by you or anyone else except to the extent that such liability cannot be limited or excluded by law. When participating in an exercise or exercise programme, there is the possibility of sustaining a physical injury. If you engage in this exercise programme, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities and assume all risk of injury to yourself. All contracts subject to and governed by English Law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.

Nutrition

Follow this link to download the presentation (powerpoint) used at the Prehabilitation-Rehabilitation Workshop “Diet and Nutrition” which includes information about where to find help.

You will find below a video from Debbie Taylor, a cancer dietician at the Ipswich Hospital. In the video Debbie explains the role of cancer dieticians and the services that are available.

For additional information, please follow this link to the Healthy Eating and Cancer page on this website.

Wellbeing

Follow this link to download the presentation (powerpoint) used at the Prehabilitation-Rehabilitation Workshop “Emotional Wellbeing” which includes information about how to find help.

Follow this link (pdf) to download information on relaxation techniques and mindfulness as methods to help deal with stress.

Additionally, please return to the Support & Information page of this website to see all the relevant services that may be appropriate: e.g. counselling, complementary therapy, family support, cancer support groups, etc.