What Is Prehabilitation? 3 Ways To Boost Your Body and Mind Before Cancer Treatment

There is a new frontier – called prehabilitation – that is helping people recover faster from a wide range of medical treatments, including those for cancer.

For a cancer patient, this prehabilitation period covers the time between your diagnosis and the start of your treatment. Prehabilitation will look different from one patient to the next, depending on a range of factors. But the goal is simple: Boost your body and mind to prepare you for the physical and mental demands related to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other treatments.

Among the potential benefits:

• Quicker recovery from the procedure
• Fewer post-operative complications after surgery
• Shorter hospital stays
• Better tolerance of chemotherapy side effects
• Building strength may open up more treatment options
• Better long-term health

Prehabilitation may be different for everyone, but it generally can be broken into three areas: Exercise, nutrition and mental wellness. Let’s look at how each of those areas can help you better prepare.

Build Physical Strength with Cancer Prehabilitation Exercise

One of the most common elements of prehabilitation is building strength through exercise. If you have received a cancer diagnosis, this may be one of the last things on your mind. But improving physical strength is important for your recovery.

Start by aiming for at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. Your current physical condition and limitations could impact what you can tolerate. Biking, jogging or using an elliptical machine are great options. But even walking around the neighborhood will offer benefits.

If you are already exercising regularly, consider boosting what you are doing. If you are active with aerobic exercise, add strength training or varied exercises to help different muscle groups.

If motivation is a factor, recruit a friend or family member as a workout partner. Or check out your local fitness center for classes – some of which may be tailored to cancer patients.

Support Your Recovery with a Cancer-Fighting Diet

When we hear bad news, we don’t often reach for the nearest salad to make us feel better. But as you head toward your treatment date, know that a healthy, well-balanced diet can help give your body valuable fuel for the days ahead.

Resist the urge to indulge in ice cream and pizza. Instead, build your daily meals around vegetables, fruits and lean meats. Cut back on red meat and avoid highly processed foods like chips and cereal.

Vitamins and supplements can also be beneficial. But first, talk with your care team about anything you want to take in addition to your regular diet. In some instances, vitamins or supplements can create conflicts with medications that will be used in your cancer treatment.

Prioritize Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being

One of the challenges of cancer treatment is the way it can affect your mental well-being. The diagnosis, by itself, is daunting. Throw in the physical demands of treatment, and it’s easy to find yourself dealing with a range of unwanted emotions, including depression and anger.

One of the advantages of exercising is that it can help your mind as well as your body. But there are other strategies you can use to limit the mental impact.

You can start by talking with your care team about available support options. Many cancer institutes have mental health teams available. There are support groups that can connect you with other patients who are going through the same experience. Learning more about the treatment journey can help prepare you for what to expect.

And don’t be afraid to call upon family and friends for help. Not everyone feels comfortable sharing what they are going through, but you may benefit from maintaining close contact with loved ones.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, your care team likely will bring up rehabilitation strategies. If not, it’s time to be your own advocate. Ask if there are any programs available or online resources you can use. This work you put in ahead of time can yield significant returns down the road.

This content is not AI generated.