New guide supports patients through their cancer journey

A new guide has been produced to support patients in the North East and North Cumbria through their cancer experience.

Northern Cancer Alliance’s My Prehab Guide: Your journey through treatment provides information patients will find useful before, during and after cancer treatment.

Prehab is short for prehabilitation and supports patients to improve their physical, emotional and psychological health before treatment to help them cope better and make a quicker recovery.

The guide covers a range of topics including nutrition, sleep and pain management. It is used by health professionals with patients at a face-to-face appointment around four weeks after they have been diagnosed. Patients are given a copy to take home or offered an electronic version if they prefer.

Compiled by prehab leads

The guide has been put together by prehab leads including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians from NHS Foundation Trusts within the Northern Cancer Alliance (NCA). It also includes contributions from the Northumbria Cancer Psychology Service.

Gemma Kindness (pictured above), Advanced Physiotherapist at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who led the development of the guide, said: “Prehab is really important in a patient’s cancer journey. It’s about getting them ready for treatment, supporting them to make small changes to their lifestyle that can make a big difference to the way they respond and recover.

“It’s brilliant to have all the information in one place and for patients to be able to refer back to it when they need to. Everything from what to eat, advice to help lessen anxiety and stress and how to manage household tasks is covered.

“The guide is full of helpful tips and resources that we as health professionals know will help patients throughout their cancer treatment and beyond.”

One of several NCA initiatives

‘My Prehab Guide’ is one of several initiatives supported by the NCA to promote prehab including leads in trusts and funding for community projects to improve patients’ physical fitness and mental wellbeing.

Clare Doney, Clinical Lead for Living With and Beyond Cancer at the NCA, said: “Research tells us there are many benefits of prehab to patients. It helps them cope better with the strain of treatment and they are more likely to have a quicker recovery.

“Prehab also reduces the likelihood of patients experiencing complications and treatment side-effects and, if they do, they are more able to overcome them.

“The guide is an excellent addition to the suite of information given to cancer patients, ensuring that everyone across the North East and North Cumbria receives the same high-quality advice.”

The guide is designed to be used by patients with the support of their prehab team. If you are a health professional and require more information, please speak to your trust’s lead for prehab.