Cancer Rehab
Learn all about our Cancer Rehab referral programme, including what’s involved and how you can get started.
What is the Cancer Rehab programme?
The Cancer Rehab programme provides specialised, supervised exercise sessions for people with cancer who may benefit from regular exercise. It aims to support participants through tailored exercise and guidance, even if they have never exercised before. The programme runs for eight weeks, and participants are required to commit to at least one exercise session per week.
What are the benefits for participants?
Staying active after a cancer diagnosis can play an important role in supporting your health and wellbeing.
Cancer and its treatment can cause fatigue, low energy, anxiety and low mood. Regular physical activity can help reduce these side effects and may lower the risk of recurrence in some cancers.
Being active before, during and after treatment can help to:
– Reduce fatigue, stress and anxiety
– Improve mood and sleep
– Support heart and bone health
– Maintain a healthy weight
Even if you have not been active for some time, have limited mobility or other health concerns, you can still exercise safely. Staying active can improve quality of life and support recovery.
What do I do? How do I start?
You may have been referred via FORCE, in which case please contact the centre and arrange your consultation, the team will get you booked in. Please ensure you bring any paperwork along with you to the consultation.
If you have not been referred yet, then you can contact FORCE HERE. They will be able to give you more information and help you with your referral.
What happens at the consultation?
With the help of your specialist instructor, you will complete a health and lifestyle questionnaire. Measurements are taken, including blood pressure and a simple fitness test, which will be used to develop your activity programme and help you recognise your progress.
Bring along your referral paperwork, which will be issued to you by your health professional, wearing comfortable clothing suitable for moving around in, and trainers or comfortable soft sole shoes, and a water bottle. Payment and activity options will be explained at this time, and after your consultation, an appointment will be made for your first supervised session.
Your programme will take into account your fitness level and medical background, and will be based mostly in the fitness studio.
Once you are happy with your exercise programme and confident in what you are doing, then you are welcome to use the gym at other times outside of the supervised sessions.
Final review
After about eight weeks you will have your final assessment, which will follow a similar format to your initial consultation, focussing on how you have progressed and recommendations for the future. We encourage you to continue exercising after completing your Cancer Rehab journey so that your improvements are maintained and not lost over time.
What does the programme cost?
The Cancer Rehab programme is £25 per month for a total of 2 months. This is paid at our reception desk via card payment only.
If you would like any further information, or to chat through with one of our qualified instructors, you can email the team at medicalreferrals@middevon.gov.uk, they will be happy to help.
