Cancer patients who are preparing for treatment can now access an online ‘Prehabilitation Toolkit’ for support and advice designed to help improve their physical and mental wellbeing. The toolkit is available on the South Eastern Trust website and is made up of three sections, diet, exercise and emotional wellbeing and includes healthy lifestyle advice on how to utilise resources to quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake.
Research has shown how focusing on these key areas before your cancer surgery or treatment starts, may help to reduce treatment complications, speed up recovery and even enable earlier discharge from hospital. It can also help you to feel more in control of your health and wellbeing.
A well as useful information and advice, there are QR codes and links contained within the Toolkit where patients and their families can access and download other useful resources and can view exercise videos specially designed for cancer patients with warm up, cardio, strength training and cool down sessions.
Patricia Prosser who has a lived experience of cancer, described the introduction of the Toolkit as, “invaluable.” Patricia said, “As a service user, I find the Toolkit invaluable and highlights the importance of Prehabilitation before cancer treatment. It is crucial because it empowers individuals to build physical and emotional resilience, helping them face the challenges of treatment with greater strength, confidence and a higher likelihood of a quicker recovery.”
Macmillan Prehabilitation Clinical Project Manager, Paula Kealey added, “Evidence highlights the importance of being as fit as possible both physical and mentally before your cancer treatment and we are delighted to be launching this new toolkit. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be devastating and patients often ask what they can do to help themselves. Prehabilitation empowers patients and allows them to participate in their care and feel more in control”.
Paula continued, “We know that it is safe and recommended to exercise when you have cancer and we have included helpful steps to increase daily fitness, by walking, going for a swim or even something as simple as climbing the stairs more often. Within the Toolkit we have included the ‘Eatwell Guide’ to show visually the importance of a balanced diet with the right food groups. Also included are some top tips for taking care of your emotional wellbeing and a short video clip with techniques to help you manage when feeling stressed as well as a link to our Macmillan Health and Wellbeing Service.
“The Toolkit is suitable for anyone with a cancer diagnosis as a guide to help reflect on areas of your life that may benefit from change. We would encourage family members to access and familiarise themselves with the Toolkit as this can help encourage and support their loved one to participate, as well as improving their own health and wellbeing.”
South Eastern Trust/Macmillan Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, Karen Foden, welcomed the development of the Toolkit and stated, “Having the Prehabilitation Toolkit online makes it really accessible for our patients who are preparing to undergo their treatment, a written version of the Toolkit is also available. This will help to prepare them through lifestyle changes, healthy diet, exercise and a focus on their own emotional and mental wellbeing.”
The Toolkit is available on the South Eastern Trust website at https://setrust.hscni.net/service/cancer-prehabilitation/