Exercise & Treatments

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Cancer and many medical treatments can affect the body in unpredictable ways. Fatigue, reduced strength, breathlessness, pain, and changes in mobility or balance can vary not only from week to week, but sometimes from day to day. Because of this, a flexible approach to exercise is essential.

Rather than following a fixed programme, exercise plans should adapt to how you are feeling at each stage of treatment and recovery. On lower-energy days, sessions may focus on gentle movement, breathing techniques, or exercises to maintain circulation, mobility, and confidence without overexertion. On stronger days, activity can be carefully progressed to support strength, stamina, and independence.

Flexible programmes use gentle regression and progression, allowing exercises to be safely adjusted in intensity, duration, or position. This ensures you can continue to benefit from movement while reducing the risk of excessive fatigue, setbacks, or injury.

Sessions may include:

• Exercises to support movement when energy or mobility is limited
• Training to help with everyday activities such as standing, walking, lifting, and climbing stairs
• Training to improve stability and reduce the risk of falls
• Exercises to maintain muscle strength
• Exercises to support heart health and reduce treatment-related fatigue
• Techniques to manage breathlessness, tension, and relaxation
• Skills such as energy management, and listening to your body

The goal is not to push through exhaustion, but to focus on what you can do each day. This adaptable approach helps maintain physical function, supports recovery, and builds confidence, while respecting the challenges that cancer and medical treatment can bring.

Cancer and medical treatments can often affect appetite, taste, digestion, and energy levels. Some days you may feel hungry and able to eat normally, while on others you may experience nausea, fatigue, taste changes, or a reduced desire to eat. Because these changes can vary from day to day, a flexible and adaptable approach to nutrition is important.

Rather than following a strict meal plan, having a range of simple, flexible meal and snack options allows you to eat in a way that suits how you feel at the time. On days when appetite is low, small, frequent snacks or easy-to-manage foods can help maintain energy and prevent unintentional weight loss. When appetite improves, meals can be gently built up to support strength, recovery, and overall wellbeing.

A flexible approach may include:

• Small, frequent meals or snacks instead of large portions
• Easy-to-prepare or convenience options for days when fatigue is high
• Soft or easy-to-eat foods if swallowing or mouth soreness is an issue
• High-energy, high-protein snacks to support muscle maintenance and recovery
• Hydration support, including drinks, soups, or smoothies
• Alternative flavours or temperatures to help manage taste changes
• Simple meal ideas that can be adjusted based on appetite and tolerance

Flexibility also supports energy management, helping you plan food preparation around your energy levels and prioritise nourishment without added pressure.

The aim is not perfection, but consistency over time. Having adaptable meal and snack ideas helps ensure your body receives the fuel it needs to support treatment, recovery, and day-to-day wellbeing, even when appetite or energy levels change.