Please bring comfortable clothing suitable for physical activity, any relevant medical documents, and a list of any medications you are currently taking.
Prehabilitation clinic
Prehabilitation, or 'prehab', is a proactive approach designed to improve patients' physical and psychological readiness for cancer treatment. It involves a combination of physical exercises, nutritional support, and psychological interventions to enhance recovery and outcomes after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
Any patient diagnosed with cancer and about to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy can benefit from prehabilitation. It is especially beneficial for people wanting to improve their physical fitness, nutritional status, and emotional wellbeing before starting treatment.
The prehabilitation programme typically runs for six to eight weeks before treatment begins. However, the duration can vary, based on individual needs and treatment plans. Our team is here to support you throughout your entire cancer journey, beyond just the pre-treatment phase.
Beginning prehabilitation
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are preparing for treatment, you can be referred to the prehabilitation programme by your healthcare provider. Once referred, you will undergo initial assessments to create a personalised care plan. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our prehabilitation team.
The prehabilitation clinic
You will attend your booked appointment at the prehabiliation clinic, held at:
York Leisure Centre, Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross, York, YO32 9AF. Get directions on Google Maps.
- Email: yhs-tr.prehabilitation@nhs.net.
- Phone: 07890435941 or 07890435940.
The prehab team
The prehab team at York Hospital includes a project team and specialist nursing team. The team is supported by a group of allied health professionals, consultant doctors, MDT coordinators, physical fitness instructors, charity officers, and other staff to help ensure the smooth delivery of the service for our patients.
The 'Fit2Go' project is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and is delivered in collaboration with Better Health, City of York Council, and York Against Cancer.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Do I need to book an appointment for the prehabilitation clinic?
Yes, you need to book an appointment to attend the Prehabilitation clinic. Call us on 07890435941 or 07890435940 or email yhs-tr.prehabilitation@nhs.net.
What can I expect during my first prehabilitation appointment?
Your first appointment will include an initial assessment of your physical health, nutritional status, and emotional wellbeing. This will involve a 6-minute walk test, a sit-to-stand test, and a handgrip strength test. You will also discuss your medical history and current health concerns with our specialist team.
Is there any cost associated with attending the prehabilitation clinic?
No, the prehabilitation services are provided free of charge, thanks to funding from Macmillan Cancer Support.
What types of physical activities are included?
The program includes personalised physical activities focusing on aerobic capacity, resistance training, and functional ability. Activities are designed to be safe and feasible, ranging from walking and cycling to supervised exercise routines at the Better Gym within the York Community Stadium Complex.
Who will be leading the physical activity sessions?
Jason and Josh, both Level 4 fitness instructors from the Better Healthwise Team lead the physical activity sessions. These sessions are held every Wednesday at 2pm at the Better Gym, York Community Stadium Complex.
What nutritional support is provided?
Patients will receive a nutritional assessment using a validated screening tool and tailored advice will be provided based on the assessment. Patients on our low-intensity pathway will receive support from their Clinical Nurse Specialist team, while patients on our high-intensity pathway will be referred to specialist dietetic services.
How is emotional and psychological support provided?
Emotional and psychological support is provided through Holistic Needs Assessments (HNA) and subsequent tailored interventions. Support can range from general advice and strategies to specialist referrals for counselling services.
What other support services are available?
In addition to physical, nutritional, and emotional support, the prehabilitation program offers assistance with smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, financial advice, work support, and more, through partnerships with organisations like Macmillan Cancer Support.
You can also visit the Cancer Wellbeing Service for a list of services provided by the Trust (York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Cancer Care (yorkhospitals.nhs.uk)).
How do I contact the prehabilitation team?
For more information or to book an appointment, you can contact us on 07890435941 or 07890435940 or email yhs-tr.prehabilitation@nhs.net.
Can my family or friends attend the sessions with me?
Yes, family and friends are welcome to attend sessions for support. They can also participate in certain activities and receive guidance on how to assist you during your treatment journey.
What do I do if I can't make it to a session?
Please contact the prehabilitation team and let us know if you're unable to make it to a session.
What do I do if I can't complete the sessions?
Please let either the prehabilitation team or your gym instructor know.
Can I continue after my eight sessions are completed?
Better Gym offers a discounted rate for anyone wanting to continue with sessions after their free classes are over.
Is it safe to exercise during cancer treatment?
Yes, research indicates that exercise is safe and beneficial during cancer treatment. Engaging in regular physical activity can help improve your treatment response, reduce side effects, and enhance your overall well-being. Our Prehabilitation program is designed to provide safe and effective exercise plans tailored to your individual needs.
What other services can I benefit from?
Please contact the prehabilitation team for more information on this.
How can smoking cessation and alcohol reduction benefit me before cancer treatment?
Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake before cancer treatment can significantly improve your surgical outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. Smoking cessation can improve lung function and wound healing while reducing alcohol intake can decrease the likelihood of perioperative complications by up to 50%.
I'd like to read supporting evidence on prehabilitation.
Easy read/listen on prehab
- Prehabilitation videos for people living with cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
- How do I physically prepare for cancer treatment? | Cancer Research UK
- What is prehabilitation? | Cancer Research UK
- How do I mentally prepare for cancer treatment? | Cancer Research UK
Deep dive prehab
- Principles and guidance for prehabilitation within the management and support of people with cancer (macmillan.org.uk)
- Prehabilitation, making patients fit for surgery – a new frontier in perioperative care - PMC (nih.gov)
- Principles and guidance for prehabilitation within the management and support of people with cancer - British Dietetic Association (BDA)
- untitled (ucl.ac.uk)
- UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- Prehabilitation in Patients before Major Surgery: A Review Article - PMC (nih.gov)
- pdf (e-lfh.org.uk)
