to deliver safe, evidence-based
and tailored exercise sessions
to clients living with cancer.
Professor Campbell has been
a pioneering figure in exercise
oncology for 20 years, she has
trained over 800 clients living
with cancer and published
over 40 papers on exercise
and cancer survivorship.
What’s more, she is extremely
passionate about encouraging
people to stay active during
their cancer treatment.
“When cancer patients remain
active they are much more likely
to manage their full treatment
dose and to return to full health
afterwards,” she comments.
I asked whether it was possible
for cancer patients to overdo
the exercise sessions, to which
she replied:
“It wouldn’t be advisable for
cancer patients to carry out
“
intensive exercise immediately
after chemotherapy when their
energy and iron levels were
low, but as soon as they feel
a bit better then exercise will
help with the physiological
and psychological side effects
of treatment.”
Hayley Osborn completed
Professor Campbell’s Level
4 CanRehab course in 2014.
She is now an assessor for the
company and is also studying
for an MSc in Physical Activity,
Exercise and Health.
Hayley’s previous job in
the NHS saw her preparing
patients for esophageal and
colorectal surgery, a role
which she found to be very
fulfilling.
Her client testimonials strongly
back up her commitment to
this role:
I never fully understood why I
had to train so hard for surgery,
especially when I was exhausted
during chemo and radiotherapy.
I now get it.”
‘’I spend more time with my son
as a result of the programme
you set me. We cycle together
now, we didn’t do that before.
My entire family is fitter, thank
you,” enthused one particular
client.
Educating clients and gently
challenging deeply rooted
beliefs goes hand in hand
with the psychological support
Hayley provides. One of her
clients reflects this notion in
their feedback:
“I never fully understood
why I had to train so hard for
surgery, especially when I was
exhausted during chemo and
radiotherapy. I now ‘get it’. I don’t
think I would be alive today if
I hadn’t done that amount of
training. Thank you for pushing
me like you did.”
Hayley and Professor
Campbell’s latest quest is to
secure charitable status for
CanRehab. They hope to soon
have a database linking patients
directly to qualified CanRehab
instructors and to run more
retreats like this one:
www.canrehabretreats.com
Hazel Davies is an exercise
instructor, fitness writer and
mother of three boys. She is
keen to support other fitness
professionals with their website
and marketing content as
well as to team up in running
well-being retreats. You can
contact her via her website:
www.wordsmithjunction.com
@REPsUK
FM 23