Preparing for Treatment
Helping you take charge before treatment begins
Whether you've just been diagnosed or preparing for the next stage of treatment, it can feel like everything's happening to you.
But there’s one very important truth we want you to know: you still have control. And we’re here to help you hold onto it.
Prehabilitation is all about preparing you – physically and emotionally – for your upcoming cancer treatment. It doesn’t matter if your next step is chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, or treatment after surgery – this programme is designed to help you prepare.
It’s flexible, evidence-based, and centred on you. Whether you’re two weeks or six weeks from starting treatment, it’s never too early (or too late) to begin.
Our approach
Our approach supports you physically, emotionally, and nutritionally – because living well with cancer is possible.
Our Preparing for Treatment (PFT) Programme offers flexible, accessible support across four key areas:
Movement
Online classes, videos, and expert-led sessions to help you stay strong and active
Nutrition
Practical guidance and one-to-one support where needed to nourish and prepare for treatment
Mindset
Tools to help reduce anxiety, build resilience and support emtional wellbeing
Connection
To help you feel less alone and maintain momentum during the programme
A strong support system helps things happen - let's meet your team
Why is preparing for treatment so important?
Preparing for treatment, or “prehab”, is about supporting your mind and body before cancer treatment begins. By taking small, proactive steps now, you can build strength, reduce side effects, and improve your recovery.
Research shows that prehab can make a real difference to:
- Surgical outcomes and how quickly you recover
- Side effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Fatigue, physical strength and mental wellbeing
- Your overall sense of control and confidence
At Penny Brohn UK, we see you as a whole person – not just a diagnosis. Cancer doesn’t only affect one part of your life, so preparing for treatment shouldn’t be one-dimensional either.
Building your Strength & Stamina
Being physically active before cancer treatment can:
- Improve fitness and strength, helping you recover more quickly after surgery
- Reduce treatment-related side effects such as fatigue, constipation, and anxiety
- Support immune health, circulation, and wound healing
We’ll help you build or maintain activity in a way that’s safe and achievable for your energy levels and circumstances. Even small steps – like walking more often or progressive strength exercises – can have a big impact.
Why we include the pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor muscles play a key role in bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and core stability. Certain cancers and treatments (such as pelvic surgery or hormone therapy) may affect pelvic health.
That’s why we include pelvic floor awareness in our movement sessions – so you can learn how to protect and strengthen this important area.
You’ll receive:
- Safe, progressive exercises for strength and mobility
- On-demand movement videos for different abilities and energy levels
- Pelvic floor education and support weaved throughout
- Access to Emily’s live Strength and Stamina class on Tuesdays at 5pm on Zoon.
What you eat before treatment matters
Good nutrition can:
- Support your immune system and healing
- Maintain strength and muscle mass
- Help manage side effects such as weight changes, poor appetite, or gut changes
We’ll help you focus on what’s most important right now – without overwhelm or strict rules. Our approach is realistic, supportive, and tailored to your individual needs and preferences.
You’ll receive:
- Clear, practical nutrition advice for your pre-treatment phase
- Guidance on protein, energy, and hydration
- Support for digestive issues, weight loss/gain, or taste changes
Strengthening Your Mindset and Emotional Resilience
The time before treatment can feel uncertain – even overwhelming. That’s completely normal. Taking care of your emotional wellbeing is just as important as preparing physically. You don’t have to be calm all the time. But you can build tools to feel steadier, more focused, and better able to navigate what’s ahead.
Emotional support before treatment can:
- Improve treatment tolerance and reduce anxiety
- Support sleep, mood, and overall quality of life
- Help you develop coping tools that you can carry into treatment and beyond
Our mindset support includes:
- Guided relaxation and breathwork
- Stress management techniques
- Resources around scars and lymphoedema to help put your mind at ease
Fortnightly check-ins with Claire
Alongside our online sessions and resources, you’ll also be invited to join fortnightly live check-ins with Claire, our Clinical Nurse Specialist.
These sessions give you the chance to:
- Ask questions about the programme and how to make the most of it
- Talk through any challenges you’re experencing with your physical activity, nutrition, or wellbeing
- Share your progress and celebrate the steps you’re taking
- Feel part of a supportive communicty of others preparing for treatment
Claire will help you stay on track and suggest adjustments.
Helping you stay on track
We know some people like to have things laid out visually. Our Preparing for Treatment Planner helps you make the most of your time with us.
It includes:
- Suggested live classes and how to fit in on-demand videos
- Space to set intentions, lists, tasks, and reminders
A simple way to stay focused, stay motivated, and plan what matters.
Ready to begin?
You can apply to our programme by completing the appropriate referral form below. Our team will review it and be in touch within 2-3 working days.
Once we accept your referral, we’ll send everything you need to register and complete your screening form.
This helps us understand your needs so we can tailor the right level of support for you.
Our Prehab Team
Emily Spillman – Physical Activity Lead
A registered nurse and cancer rehab coach with experience in oncology, pelvic health, and fitness. Emily helps you move safely, with confidence and care.
“Movement should work with your body, not against it”
Kim Wilcox – Nutrition Lead
Kim is an Associate Registered Nutritionist and brings clarity and compassion to cancer nutrition. Her calm, non-diet approach helps you feel nourished, not overwhelmed.
“Food should be about what we can add, not take away”
Claire Lynch – Clinical Lead
Claire is a Cancer Nurse Specialist with years of
experience in integrative cancer care. She oversees your safety and keeps things tailored to you.
“Your values guide the support we offer, never the other way around.”
FAQs
Our programme is designed for anyone with a recent cancer diagnosis who is preparing for treatment, or someone who is starting additional treatment. This includes people who are waiting for surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other interventions. You can be at any stage of your treatment pathway – for example, you may have completed chemotherapy and now preparing for surgery. Or you could have had surgery but now need support preparing for chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. We welcome self-referrals as well as referrals from healthcare professionals.
That’s okay. Many people are facing longer waits between diagnosis and treatment. Prehab can still help – in fact, even two weeks of preparation can lead to meaningful benefits in strength, recovery, and emotional wellbeing.
We understand that plans often shift. If your treatment is delayed, brought forward, or changed altogether, just let us know. We’ll adapt your support accordingly and make sure you’re still getting what you need.
We support people for approx 2-6 weeks, depending on your treatment plan and needs. You can engage with the programme for a shorter period if your treatment starts sooner – we’ll tailor everything around your timeline.
Your programme may include:
- Online resources to support movement, nutrition, and psychological wellbeing
- Access to online group sessions
- Fortnightly check-ins with our team
- One-to-one support, where appropriate, based on your screening outcomes
It’s up to you. You can follow a structured plan with a few sessions each week. We offer suggested planners and weekly guides to help you build a routine that works around your energy, appointments, and life.
To begin, you’ll need to complete our registration and screening questionnaire. This helps us understand your current health, lifestyle, and support needs – so we can ensure that this programme is the right fit for you.
It allows us to identify anyone who may benefit from more tailored support, so the right care is provided at the right time, without delay.
We use a short, evidence-informed screening questionnaire to match you with the right level of support. For many people, our self-led programme offers flexible and empowering tools to get started independently. For others, it may highlight a need for one-to-one guidance with our team or referral to specialised services in the NHS. This step ensures that no one slips through the gaps, and that you get the care that’s appropriate for your needs – from day one.
You’re welcome to attend any of our live movement sessions – and we strongly recommend making moderate-intensity exercise your priority, as it’s the most effective way to prepare your body physically for treatment. Our Strength & Stamina sessions are specifically designed to help improve your fitness, resilience, and recovery. If you’d like to add or even start with something lihter, you’re very welcome to join our Stretch and Relax, Mindful Movement, or Gentle Movement Snack sessions too. These are brilliant for an entry point to exercise as well as supporting mobility, breathwork, and emotional wellbeing. See our full session calendar here.
Yes. Everything is adapted to your current levels of fitness, health conditions, energy, and preferences. Whether you’re very active or dealing with mobility challenges, we’ll meet you where you are.
No. Our programme complements existing NHS or hospital-based prehab services. If you’ve been referred to both, we’ll work alongside those sedrvices to ensure your care is joined-up and personalised.
No – our PFT Programme is completely free of charge, but we do encourage donations from those who are able.
Our screening questionnaire helps us identify who may benefit from more tailored input. Due to capacity, we prioritise individual sessions for those with additional needs – such as co-existing health conditions, moderate risk nutritional needs, or low confidence around movement. If you’re eligible, we’ll let you know and arrange support.
Yes. We can complement your existing support, and we’ll always ask about any other care you’re receiving to ensure our guidance fits around it.
While the programme is designed for people with cancer, we know support from loved ones makes a big difference. You’re welcome to share resources or attend group sessions with someone close to you, if that feels helpful.
Yes. During our pilot phase, healthcare professionals in the BNSSG area can refer patients directly to the Preparing for Treatment programme using our referral form. Once we receive the referral, our team will contact the individual to explain the programme and help them get started.
If you’re a professional outside this area and would like to know more or express interest, please get in touch with us.