Getting ready for treatment
What is Prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation, or prehab, helps you improve your fitness before your cancer treatment by encouraging healthy behaviours such as, exercising more, healthy eating and stopping smoking. It may also include, psychological and emotional support and help with drug and alcohol usage. Your clinical nurse specialist will make a referral to our specialist team and recommend you start prehab as soon as possible after your diagnosis.
Why take part in Prehab
Prehab helps you to build your resilience to cancer treatments and may improve your long-term outcomes and quality of life. We understand that this may be a very busy time for you. However, your prehabilitation is an essential part of your treatment pathway to support your recovery. We can discuss various options for your ongoing prehab during your first face to face appointment.
Prehab at the Royal Devon University Hospital
We have a team of specialist physiotherapist, exercise therapist and dieticians who offer individualised support so you are able to meet your personal goals such as improving cardiovascular fitness as well improving muscle control in your pelvis, stomach, hips and lower back. They help with breathing exercises to help with respiratory strength.
You may be offered 1:1 support, group/virtual classes or telephone support. Our services are delivered from our Community Hospitals. We work very closely with our local cancer centres FORCE, ELF and FERN who are also able to support you in your recovery.
What is Rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation takes place after your cancer treatment. Some people may find it difficult to get back to “feeling themselves” and may need additional specialist help i.e to support tummy/abdominal strength or pelvic floor control (to improve urinary incontinence).
You may be offered 1:1 support, group/virtual classes or telephone support. Our services are delivered from some of our Community Hospitals. We work very closely with our local cancer centres FORCE, ELF and FERN who are also able to support you in your recovery.
We will also give you support and advice to help prepare for your recovery and rehabilitation (which is your fitness after surgery).
Why should I take part?
- improve your strength and fitness for treatment and recovery.
- Boost your cardiovascular fitness & strength
- Strengthen your stomach, back, hip and & pelvic floor muscles
- Improve your breathing pattern & respiratory muscle strength.
- Build friendships with other patients who have similar experiences.
What should I expect?
We recognise that everyone’s starting point and journey is different. You may be part of a small group or be seen 1:1, either way you will get the right help for you.
The Services we offer are:-
- Individual prehabilitation support either 1:1 or in groups
- Prost8 - to improve pelvic floor muscles which help with bladder and bowel control
- Core Confidence - to improve stomach, back and hip muscles after surgery
- Return to fitness – for people who want to improve their overall general fitness
- Circuit-based whole-body exercises (cardiovascular and strength training) that you can complete at your own pace.
- Additional techniques or exercises specific to your surgery to aid your recovery