What is Prehabilitation?

Starting treatment for cancer can be daunting, and you may feel you have little control. But there are things you can do before you start therapy, such as making small changes to your everyday life to look after your health and get ready for cancer treatment. This is called prehabilitation, or prehab. Find out more in this video.

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Summary of key points

1

Prehabilitation, or prehab can help you increase your ability to cope with side effects from treatment and take back some control over your health.

2

There are steps that your care team may take to help you with prehab.

3

There are also things that you can do by yourself: try to stay active, eat well, look after your mental wellbeing, drink as little alcohol as possible, and try to quit smoking.

4

Prehab can continue throughout your treatment, through to recovery.

Living well: Physical activity and exercise

Physical activity and exercise are an important component of prehab. Staying active can help you take some control of your journey with cancer. In most people with cancer, any extra activity above what you currently do, including housework, gardening and walking to the shop, is a good thing. Find out more in this video.

Living well: Eating well

Healthy eating is an important component of prehab. You have the power to take some control of your journey with cancer by eating well before, during and after treatment. Find out how small changes to what you eat can make a big difference to how you feel over time in this video.

Living well: Mental wellbeing

Taking care of your mental wellbeing is an important component of prehab. Looking after your mental health can help you take some control of your journey with cancer. Find out more about different types of support available in this video.

Living well: Alcohol Moderation

Drinking alcohol in moderation is an important component of prehab. If you have cancer, it’s best to avoid alcohol as much as possible, and it can help you take some control over your health. Cutting down on alcohol can also help you get in the best possible shape as you prepare for cancer treatment. Find out more in this video.

Living well: Stopping Smoking

Stopping smoking is an important component in prehabilitation. If you have cancer, it’s best to try and give up smoking. Taking steps such as cutting down or giving up smoking can help you take some control over your health. Find out more in this video.

This patient video has been organised and fully funded by Bristol Myers Squibb under a collaborative initiative with Macmillan Cancer Support, whose advice in helping to develop the content of this video including engagement with people with lived experience of cancer is hereby acknowledged.

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