BC Cancer Adds Exercise to Cancer Care Plans
Patients at BC Cancer will soon have access to exercise programs designed specifically to boost fitness before treatment begins a practice known as prehabilitation. The move makes British Columbia one of the first places in Canada to formally integrate structured exercise into cancer care to help improve outcomes and quality of life.
Health experts say exercise can help patients build physical resilience, reduce treatment side effects and even speed recovery.
What Prehabilitation Means for Patients
Prehabilitation is a tailored program that helps patients improve their strength, endurance and overall health before major cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
Rather than waiting for treatment to begin and then focusing on recovery, patients will work with exercise professionals before interventions. Programs may include strength training, aerobic workouts, flexibility routines, balance exercises and personalised guidance based on each patient’s condition.
Proponents say starting early gives patients a better chance of tolerating tough treatments and bouncing back faster afterward.
Why Exercise Matters in Cancer Care
Research shows that physical activity isn’t just good for general health it can also play an important role during cancer care. Exercise has been linked to:
- Better physical fitness before surgery
- Reduced treatment side effects
- Improved mood and mental wellbeing
- Faster return to daily activities after treatment
Doctors and physiotherapists now urge patients to view exercise as part of their treatment journey rather than an optional add-on.
BC Cancer Program a First in Canada
While some cancer centres elsewhere have encouraged exercise, the new initiative in British Columbia is one of the first formal, system-wide “prehabilitation” programs in the country. BC Cancer officials say the program will work as part of a coordinated care plan that includes oncology, physiotherapy and patient support services.
Officials hope the structured program will serve as a model for other provinces and health systems across Canada.
How the Exercise Program Will Work
Patients diagnosed with cancer will be assessed by a team of specialists who can recommend exercise routines based on their health status, type of cancer, treatment timeline and physical abilities.
The program will offer:
- One-on-one sessions with exercise physiologists
- Supervised training in clinical settings
- Home-based exercise guidance
- Monitoring and adjustment as patients progress
Participants won’t have to be elite athletes programs are designed to meet people where they are, whether they are already active or just starting out.
Voices From Patients and Health Providers
Health professionals say exercise should be treated like any other therapy patient-specific, measurable and coordinated with medical care.
Patients who have participated in pilot programs described feeling more confident and physically prepared, even when treatments were daunting. Many said having a plan to build strength gave them emotional comfort and a sense of control during an otherwise stressful time.
Looking Ahead: Research and Long-Term Impact
BC Cancer plans to monitor outcomes from the prehabilitation program and share results with other cancer centres. Researchers will look at measures such as treatment tolerance, recovery times and overall wellbeing to assess how exercise influences long-term health.
Officials believe that evidence from this program could shape future cancer care guidelines — not only in Canada but internationally.
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