Wellbeing for the Time Being Preparing yourself before your Cancer Treatment/Surgery Undergoing treatment for cancer can put demands on our bodies both physically and mentally. We know that making even small improvements to our health and wellbeing before starting treatment can help us cope with treatment and improve recovery. This preparation ahead of treatment/surgery is known as prehabilitation, or prehab. Wellbeing for the Time Being is a prehab programme which has been designed to support patients across County Durham who are currently awaiting planned cancer treatment/surgery. The programme promotes waiting well, and supports people while waiting for their treatment.
Why is Prehabilitation (Prehab) important? Prehab means getting ready for your treatment or surgery before it has happened. It supports you to prepare well, both mentally and physically through a structured programme that is tailored to your individual needs.
Mental Wellbeing
Physical Health
The evidence for prehab is continuing to grow. Cancer patients and healthcare professionals alike are seeing real benefits from preparing for treatment/surgery. Preparing yourself for cancer treatment/surgery through exercise, nutrition and improving general wellbeing can: Help you to maintain independence and reduce your reliance on others, helping you to do the things that matter to you Improve your mood and wellbeing Improve your general strength, fitness and confidence Improve your nutrition, ensuring you have enough “fuel” for the treatment ahead Reduce the complications and side effects of treatment Improve your response to future cancer treatments Speed up your recovery and return to work Enhance your quality of life Promote your long term health and wellbeing, reducing the chance of cancer coming back
What can patients expect? The Wellbeing for the Time Being Programme has been tailored to support you in your journey by providing a support programme to suit your individual needs. The programme is designed to complement, not replace, other activities and treatments that you may already be involved with or receiving.
Each patient’s programme is unique to them During your initial health and wellbeing assessment you will answer a series of questions, which enables us to tailor a programme unique to you – your own individual prehab journey.
Your support programme could involve any of the following: Emotional support over the phone Attending a group physical activity session 1-2-1 physical activity sessions Virtual physical activity sessions Virtual educational sessions Advice on how to improve your diet Referrals to other partner organisations, i.e. stop smoking You don’t need to worry if you do not usually take part in regular physical activity/exercise. All of our staff are trained to provide you with the level of activity that is appropriate for you and are with you every step of the way. Your prehab journey will last approximately 5 sessions, although may be shorter depending on your treatment/surgery date. Please don’t worry if your prehab journey is shorter as most recent findings indicate that even taking part in a few weeks of prehab can make a difference to your health outcomes post treatment/surgery.
Emotional Wellbeing A cancer diagnosis and waiting to start treatment can be very distressing and unsettling for you and your family and friends. It is normal to go through a period where you might experience uncertainty and worries about: Your prognosis and survival Permanent physical changes Discomfort or pain
Try to keep in mind that a big part of what you’re feeling during this time is a normal response to a very stressful life experience. Getting ready for treatment and looking after your mental wellbeing before treatment starts will: Help you to feel prepared Help you to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression and reduce the risk of it getting worse There are a lot of services, organisations and apps that can support you in managing your mental and emotional wellbeing. Some examples and links are listed below: Macmillan Information and Support Centres (based within local hospitals) Support from your Specialist Nurse and other members of your medical team Cancer support groups – both local and national Apps such as MI Wellbeing Coach - supporting your wellbeing following a cancer diagnosis (bit.ly/CDDcoach) NHS Mental health https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/library/wpcontent/uploads/sites/8/2020/09/NHS-Mental-Health-Apps.pdf Emotional resilience advice (Wellbeing for the Time Being, Macmillan Joining the Dots) Complementary therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, mindfulness and yoga “Look Good Feel Better” https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk Physical Health
Exercise and physical activity play an important role in maintaining a healthy body and mind.
In addition to improving general fitness, being more physically active can also really help you to prepare for your treatment/surgery by: Improving physical resilience so that your body is better able to cope with the physical stress of surgery or treatment Reducing the impact of treatment side effects such as fatigue Reducing the likelihood of treatment/surgical complications Research shows that you can improve your fitness and build muscle in as little as two weeks. So even if you only have a short amount of time before your cancer treatment starts, it is still beneficial to be more physically active. It is also now widely understood that it is safe and very beneficial to continue with physical activity both during and after cancer treatments. If treatment or surgery are not part of your plan of care, increasing your physical activity levels will improve your general fitness and wellbeing and therefore your quality of life. There are many resources available which can help you to achieve your personal goals. You will find links to some of these below: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/ https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/your-care/living-andbeyond-cancer/exercise-home https://www.cht.nhs.uk/fileadmin/site_setup/contentUploads/S ervices/Clinical/Cancer/3-physical-activity-for-adults-andolder-adults.pdf https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/ Macmillan Move More Exercise videos. Move more YouTube
Nutrition Feelings of uncertainty and anxiety following a cancer diagnosis can lead to a loss of appetite and weight. You may have also lost weight as a result of your cancer. Being underweight can affect how well you cope with and recover from your cancer treatment/surgery. You can help yourself to get ready for cancer treatment/surgery by trying to eat a healthy balanced diet and controlling your portion sizes. In addition to foods rich in nutrients, protein in particular is important in preparation for surgery. Protein helps to build muscle and a varied diet with lots of protein helps the body to fight off infection and heal itself. Adopting a healthy diet not only helps you prepare for cancer treatment/surgery but can have long term benefits to your health. To help you to maintain a healthy weight remember to: Watch for changes in weight Keep an eye on portion size Choose healthy options More information can be found at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well. Here you can find up to date guidance on ways you can ensure you have a healthy balanced diet and the Eatwell Guide, which provides information on the types and amounts of foods recommended.
Contact Information: 0800 876 6887 www.wellbeingforlife.net cddft.wb4tb@nhs.net cddft.cancerprehab@nhs.net