Prehabilitation (prehab) means getting ready for your cancer treatment before it starts and keeping well throughout its duration.
It is a programme of support and advice designed to help improve your physical and mental health wellbeing.
It focuses on:
- what you’re eating and your weight
- physical activity or exercise
- mental wellbeing
Focusing on these areas before your surgery or treatment starts can help you to reduce the risk of side effects and complications, help you to leave hospital earlier, and to feel more in control of your health and what is happening to you.
In addition, if you stop smoking and cut down on alcohol, the benefits to your cancer treatment, recovery and overall health could be even greater.
You may already be active and eat well and wonder if you need to change what you do, or you may have never exercised or struggle with your mood and now feel overwhelmed about the thought of making changes. Whatever stage you are at, it is worth speaking to your healthcare team about Prehabilitation or look at some of the resources that Macmillan have on their website.
If you click on the link below you will find a Prehab DIY Toolkit which provides detailed guidance to help you look at these areas of your life and support you to make the changes that can have a positive impact on your treatment and recovery into the future.