Prehabilitation is the time you have before your cancer treatment starts. It is an opportunity for you to focus on your health and wellbeing and a chance to get stronger and fitter as you prepare for your treatment.
Prehabilitation covers five main parts of your health:
Cancer may have already affected your appetite or your day-to-day activities.
Cancer treatment can also be a challenge for you physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. There are lots of things you can do to help manage the changes you may be experiencing or the way you are feeling.
Improving your physical activity, diet and mental wellbeing can help you cope with what lies ahead. It will also enable you to take control and continue doing the activities that are important to you.
Reduce complications and side effects that are associated with cancer treatment and to help speed up recovery
Enable you to do the things that matter to you
Work towards a more active lifestyle
Help you to feel more resilient and confident
Improve your mood and help manage anxiety and stress
Improve nutrition and make sure you have enough ‘fuel’ for the treatment ahead
Remember: The better you feel before any treatment starts, the easier the experience will be, and your recovery after treatment will be quicker.
The following video from Macmillan will provide more information on Prehabilitation Prehabilitation videos for people living with cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support.
Web page content was created by Betsi Cadwalader and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Allied Health Professional Cancer Leads and has been adapted for the Powys Teaching Health Board website