If you’ve undergone treatment for cancer, returning to life as usual is not always easy. The new Battle Cancer Programme offers much-needed support for cancer survivors by providing a free 12-week fitness programme that helps people rebuild their physical and mental strength after treatment.
The programme has launched in seven locations – five in the UK and two in the USA – where people can attend small group classes (once COVID-19 restrictions allow, of course).
It’s accompanied by an online programme so anyone can follow it anywhere. The programme is the same one taught in gyms, with adjustments made to suit the equipment you might have available at home.
You can join the online programme at any time and you’ll be guided through two video workouts a week, which can be completed alone or with a buddy. As well as the workouts there are explainer videos to help ensure you’re performing the exercises correctly and, as with the live programme, you can log your sessions with the Battle Cancer community so you benefit from a support network.
The programme is designed to help make you “fit for life” and tracks your progress through tests on things like your grip strength, resting heart rate, mobility and balance. Your mental health is also assessed using the World Health Organisation’s Quality Of Life questionnaire.
See related
- How To Use Exercise To Help A Long-Term Health Condition
- What It’s Like To Have Cancer
- Use Macmillan’s Support Service To Get Accurate Information About A Cancer Diagnosis
If you would rather attend a live programme, here’s the list of UK gyms involved for when the lockdown is over.
- WIT, London
- Forest Flow CrossFit, Lancaster
- Train, Manchester
- Move Forward Gym, Ottery St Mary, Devon
- Go Train East Rocks, Dunbar
Within each group that completes the live programme there is the opportunity for one person to become an instructor and lead the next group of survivors through it.
You can sign up for the free online programme on the Battle Cancer website, where you can also register your interest to join a live programme when available.
