Cancer prehabilitation is an intervention that takes place before and during cancer treatment. It offers patients diagnosed with, or highly suspected of having, cancer opportunities to take control over their future health in relation to the following aspects of prehabilitation:
- Physical activity
- Nutrition
- Psychological and emotional wellbeing
- Sleep
- Fatigue management
- Lifestyle changes such as smoking and alcohol cessation
The benefits of 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
Reduced complications from systemic treatment
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
Prehabilitation is part of a continuum in the rehabilitation pathway. It enables people with cancer to make the most of their lives by maximising the outcomes of their treatment whilst minimising the consequences of treatment.
The benefits can be seen in as little as two weeks.
Cancer prehabilitation video
Find out what support University Hospital Tees can offer through our OPTIMISE Cancer Prehabiltiation Service through this 90 second animation.
Preparing for treatment
The thought of starting treatment can be daunting, but there are things you can do to help you get ready. Preparing your body can improve your tolerance to treatment and help you recover faster.
How do I take part?
OPTIMISE Cancer Prehabilitation is here to support you throughout your cancer journey. If you haven’t already been referred to the OPTIMISE Cancer Prehabilitation service, please asked your clinical nurse specialist or member of your healthcare team to refer you.
What will happen after I have been referred?
You will receive a digital screening questionnaire from Dr Doctor. This will either be as a SMS message or via your NHS app. If you do not have a mobile number registered with the hospital, please advise your healthcare team who can update this for you. If you do not have a mobile number, we can send this questionnaire to a friend or family member who can help you complete it.
The questionnaire stays live for 48hrs, and we ask that you complete this as soon as possible. It should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete and asks questions regarding your weight, physical activity levels, fatigue, quality of life, lifestyle questions and preference for exercise opportunities. At the end of the questionnaire, we will ask you for your email address. If you do not have an email address, you can input a trusted friend or family member’s email address who can share the information we send with you instead.
What happens once I’ve completed the questionnaire?
Once we have received your screening questionnaire back, a clinician will review your scores, triage and submit any referrals as required.
We will then send you an email containing resources and next steps.
This email will come from [email protected]. Please make sure to check your junk mail if you do not receive this.
This email will include:
- Information about our prehabilitation workshops with Maggie’s
- A link to a one-hour pre-recorded cancer prehabilitation school hosted by a dietitian and a physiotherapist
- A copy of our OPTIMISE cancer prehabilitation home exercise programme
- A copy of My Prehab Guide
- Information on any referrals we have submitted – for example, this may be to a dietitian, smoking cessation or a referral for structured cancer prehabilitation exercise classes based on your preferences
- A link to a 15-minute fatigue recording, by a specialist occupational therapist
- Leaflets for community offerings
Contact us
- Email: [email protected]
- Call: 01642 282792
- Text: 07977046516
The cashiers office at University Hospital of North Tees can be found next to the tower block lifts and opens Monday 10am to 4.30pm and Tuesday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm.