Charity hails exercise benefit to cancer patients

The Active Together programme is designed to run alongside medical cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Yorkshire Cancer Research has called for exercise-based treatment to be offered to all patients, saying physical movement can speed up recovery and cut the chances of cancer returning.

The charity recently began running exercise sessions for cancer patients at its new centre in Harrogate.

The Active Together programme is designed to run alongside medical cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The charity has urged the NHS to roll out similar services nationally, to promote patients' wellbeing. NHS England has been contacted for comment.

'Invigorated and energised'

The charity says evidence shows similar services have saved lives by increasing cancer treatment options, reducing side effects, speeding up recovery and reducing the risk of cancer coming back.

Chief executive Dr Kathryn Scott said: “This is not instead of any other treatment.

"The traditional three treatments that cancer patients are offered – surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – they still continue.

“What this does is adds onto that nutrition, fitness and wellbeing.

"The worldwide evidence is compelling – other countries have really shown it can reduce the chance of a cancer coming back.”

Les Wallis, from Knaresborough, has been on the programme for six months as part of his treatment for prostate cancer.

He said: "I started off with some one-to-one sessions then joined the group sessions.

"You feel a lot more invigorated, more energised.

"Mentally you feel better. My wife says she has seen the difference in me."

Les Wallis has been on the Active Together programme for six months

Heather Hyder, from Harrogate, is going through her second course of cancer treatment, having received her first diagnosis more than 20 years ago.

“Just before my 50th birthday, I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. It’s treatable, but not curable,” she said.

Ms Hyder said the exercise helped to improve her stamina so she could fulfil her ambition of taking classes with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice.

“I looked at some of the videos of the classes and thought ‘No way am I going to be able to do that',” Ms Hyder said.

“My stamina wasn’t there and you lose some confidence.

"So the sessions here were tailored a bit towards the dancing I would be doing.

“We did samba and salsa for two hours.

"If you’d have said three years ago you will be dancing, and will get through it without collapsing in a heap – I wouldn’t have believed it.”

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