Prehabilitation is an important part of the cancer pathway. It can help you prepare for your treatment by promoting healthy behaviours and improving your overall health.
Focus areas include through physical activity, nutrition advice and psychological support. Evidence shows that improving your physical and mental health can also help you to recover more quickly. This applies to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. It can reduce the chance of further problems during and after your treatment.
Prehabilitation can improve your quality of life. It can help you to keep your independence. This means you can carry on doing all the things that are important to you.
Evidence shows that it is important for physical activity, nutrition, and wellbeing to be a focus before treatment begins. We know that everyone has different needs. Some people require specialist support prior to treatment starting.
Everyone is different. Your hospital team will work with you to offer the right support for you. This webpage offers universal (available to all) information to help keep you well before your treatment.
What is prehabilitation?
- Prepares you mentally and physically for treatment
- Increases your fitness and strength prior to treatment
- Reduces length of stay in hospital
- Reduces post op complications
- Improves fitness
- Improves nutritional health
- Provides a chance to stop smoking and reduce or stop drinking alcohol
- Improves your quality of life
- Helps you to stay independent and keep doing the things that matter the most
- Supports better treatment results and may increase options for treatment
- Reduces the chances of your cancer returning, or the chances of other cancers and health conditions developing
The prehabilitation team includes a senior specialist physiotherapist and 2 health coaches. They will support you alongside your medical and nursing team, as well as other members of the multidisciplinary team.
Other members of the team who may be involved in your care, and how they can help you with prehabilitation are below. Click on the links to meet members of the team.
The prehabilitation team works Monday to Friday, 8.30am. to 4.30pm. They do not work on public bank holidays.
Anyone with a cancer diagnosis can be referred to the prehabilitation service. You can be referred to the service by your medical or nursing team.
Following a referral, you will get a text message within 24 hours. It will include a short questionnaire to fill in. This will give us more information about you and your needs. It allows us to plan your care.
You will receive a phone call, from the prehabilitation team, within a week of your referral.
Please be aware that, if referred at a weekend, the week would start on the next working day .
Next, you will have an first appointment with the physiotherapist. This is to discuss your fitness levels and how you are managing at home. You can talk about any other concerns you may have and support you need.
You will get advice and options for treatment. This depends upon the level of support you may require.
Will taking part delay my treatment?
No, we will work with the time we have to improve your health and wellbeing. Improvements can be seen in as little as 2 weeks.
Can I stop the programme at any time?
Yes, you can stop at any time. If you have any questions or concerns about taking part, the team will be happy to discuss these with you before you decide to stop altogether.
What happens if I don’t want to take part?
Participation is voluntary. However, you will see the best results if you are motivated and want to take part.
If you’re still unsure about prehabilitation, listen to Mark’s experience of prehabilitation.