01
Less movement uncertainty
WHAT THIS MEANS
You know what feels appropriate, what to avoid and when to seek clinical guidance.
Personalised exercise oncology support for people living with and beyond cancer, available online and in Chiswick, West London.
Movement Oncology™ is Darryl Edwards’ specialist exercise oncology service for people living with and beyond cancer. It provides personalised, evidence-informed movement support before, during and after cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy and survivorship.
It is designed for people who want safe, personalised exercise oncology support alongside their oncology team, rather than generic fitness advice.
Exercise can be adapted to your diagnosis, treatment stage, fatigue, pain, strength, mobility, confidence and medical guidance. Where relevant, support may also include lifestyle factors that affect recovery and adherence, such as nutrition, supplement use, sleep, stress, and daily routines. This support is suitable for people who feel unsure where to start, are worried about fatigue, are concerned about losing strength, or are looking for safe movement guidance alongside oncology care.
Support is available online across the UK and internationally, with in-person sessions available in Chiswick, West London.
This is a private, self-funded service; patients can self-refer and book a free discovery call.
This service supports oncology care. It does not replace treatment, medical advice, physiotherapy, or rehabilitation prescribed by your clinical team.
Movement Oncology™ support is available through one-off consultations and structured support programmes. Options include an initial lifestyle assessment, focused follow-up consultations, a 3-Month Movement Oncology™ Support Programme and a 6-Month Movement Oncology™ Support Programme. Full package details and current prices are available on the packages page.
Packages and Prices
What is Movement Oncology™ support?
Movement Oncology™ support uses adapted movement, resistance training, aerobic activity, pacing and behaviour support to help people living with and beyond cancer move safely alongside clinical care.
Who Movement Oncology™ Support Is For
This support may suit you if you are living with or beyond cancer and want safe, personalised movement guidance.
It may be appropriate if you are:
• preparing for surgery or treatment
• receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or immunotherapy
• recovering after treatment
• dealing with cancer-related fatigue
• losing strength, muscle or confidence
• unsure how much exercise is safe
• looking for online exercise oncology support
How Movement Oncology™ Support Works
You tell me your diagnosis, treatment stage, current symptoms, treatment effects, medical guidance, energy levels, movement history and what daily life currently feels like.
Where relevant, we also review nutrition, supplement use, sleep, stress and lifestyle factors that may affect fatigue, recovery, exercise tolerance and long-term habits.
We review strength, balance, mobility, confidence, fatigue, pain and activity tolerance.
Your movement plan may include resistance training, aerobic activity, mobility, balance, walking, pacing strategies and practical movement for daily function.
The plan is adapted for good weeks, low-energy weeks, treatment changes, recovery periods and clinical restrictions.
How the Movement Is Medicine framework applies to exercise oncology
Exercise oncology follows the same broad framework:
WHY → HOW → WHAT → DOSE → REPEAT
Cancer diagnosis, treatment, symptoms and recovery can alter WHAT movement is appropriate and the DOSE that can be safely tolerated and progressed.
In exercise oncology, the framework becomes more individualised because treatment, symptoms, clinical risk and recovery can change what is appropriate from week to week.
Read the full Movement Is Medicine framework
We review regularly, progress carefully and keep the aim clear: better strength, confidence, function and quality of life.
MOVEMENT ONCOLOGY™
Outcomes we aim for
The aim is to build physical capacity, confidence and sustainable movement while adapting exercise to treatment, symptoms, recovery and clinical guidance.
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Better strength and function
WHAT THIS MEANS
We work on muscles and movements that support daily life.
03
Fatigue-aware activity
WHAT THIS MEANS
You build capacity while respecting recovery.
04
More confidence
WHAT THIS MEANS
You rebuild trust in your body after diagnosis or treatment.
05
Improved daily capacity
WHAT THIS MEANS
Walking, stairs, lifting, balance and everyday tasks feel more manageable.
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Better survivorship habits
WHAT THIS MEANS
You create movement routines that can continue long term.
Safety, Screening and Medical Clearance
This service provides movement coaching and exercise oncology support. It does not diagnose cancer, treat cancer, prescribe medication, provide physiotherapy or replace medical advice from your oncology team, GP, specialist nurse, surgeon or physiotherapist.
Exercise recommendations are adapted to your diagnosis, treatment stage, current symptoms, clinical guidance, fitness level, confidence and preferences.
Medical clearance or clinical guidance may be needed if you have recent surgery, bone metastases (cancer spread to the bones), osteoporosis or fracture risk (weaker bones or higher risk of breaks), chest pain, unstable blood pressure, severe breathlessness, anaemia (low red blood cells), neutropenia (low white blood cells), infection risk, neuropathy (nerve pain, numbness or tingling), balance loss, falls risk, severe fatigue, dizziness, fever, uncontrolled pain or unexplained symptoms.
Evidence-Informed Support
Current evidence-based guidance and consensus statements support appropriately adapted aerobic and resistance exercise during and after cancer treatment.
This page draws on guidance from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) while recognising that exercise needs to be adapted to diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, safety considerations and clinical advice.
ASCO recommends aerobic and resistance exercise during active treatment with curative intent, where appropriate, to help reduce treatment-related side effects. ACSM’s international consensus statement reports sufficient evidence that exercise can improve physical fitness, physical function, quality of life and cancer-related fatigue in cancer survivors. ESMO’s cancer-related fatigue guideline recommends aerobic and resistance exercise for patients with cancer-related fatigue. COSA calls for exercise to be embedded as part of standard cancer care. Research after cancer diagnosis also links physical activity with lower recurrence and mortality risk, with the strongest and most consistent evidence in breast and colorectal cancer. Most evidence comes from large cohort studies and meta-analyses, with randomised trial evidence now emerging in colorectal cancer.
Landmark colorectal cancer trial
The CHALLENGE trial provides some of the strongest randomised evidence to date. In this phase III trial, 889 people with stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer began a structured three-year exercise programme after surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Compared with health education alone, the exercise programme improved disease-free survival. Five-year disease-free survival was 80.3% in the exercise group versus 73.9% in the control group. The trial also reported findings consistent with longer overall survival, with eight-year overall survival of 90.3% versus 83.2%.
This evidence is specific to colon cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy, so it should not be applied as a guarantee across all cancer types. It does, however, strengthen the case for structured, personalised exercise as part of cancer survivorship care, adapted to diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, safety considerations and clinical guidance.
For Oncologists, Surgeons and Healthcare Professionals
Patients can self-refer or be signposted for private movement oncology support with Darryl Edwards.
Patients can access one-off consultations or structured 3-month and 6-month support programmes, depending on treatment stage, fatigue, function, goals and support needs.
Support is adapted to diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, energy levels, mobility, strength, confidence, medical guidance and clinical precautions. It supports oncology care and does not replace medical treatment, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, diagnosis or clinical review.
For people whose primary need is broader healthy ageing, metabolic health, long-term-condition or general physical-function support rather than cancer-specific exercise oncology, see Darryl’s Healthcare Referrals and Signposting page.
PROFESSIONAL SIGNPOSTING
This may suit patients who need support with:
Movement Oncology™ support can be adapted to treatment stage, symptoms, physical capacity, clinical guidance and the individual’s current priorities.
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Cancer-related fatigue
SUPPORT FOCUS
Graded activity, pacing, resistance training and aerobic progression.
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Deconditioning
SUPPORT FOCUS
Rebuilding strength, balance, mobility and confidence.
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Loss of muscle or strength
SUPPORT FOCUS
Progressive resistance training adapted to symptoms and treatment stage.
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Fear of movement
SUPPORT FOCUS
Education, graded exposure and confidence-building.
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Survivorship
SUPPORT FOCUS
Sustainable physical activity habits and longer-term survivorship support.
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Hormone therapy effects
SUPPORT FOCUS
Strength, function, body composition and fatigue-aware activity planning.
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Reduced confidence after treatment
SUPPORT FOCUS
Supported return to meaningful daily movement.
Clinical considerations
Medical clearance or clinical guidance may be requested before progressing exercise intensity where clinical risk is higher.
This may apply after recent surgery, during active treatment, or where there are bone, cardiovascular, neurological, immune, balance, anaemia, severe fatigue, severe breathlessness, infection risk, uncontrolled pain, dizziness or unexplained symptom concerns.
Medical clearance or clinical guidance may be requested before progressing exercise intensity where clinical risk is higher.
This may apply after recent surgery, during active treatment, or where there are bone, cardiovascular, neurological, immune, balance, anaemia, severe fatigue, severe breathlessness, infection risk, uncontrolled pain, dizziness or unexplained symptom concerns.
This is a private, self-funded service. Patients can self-refer, book a free discovery call, and complete an intake form before any coaching begins.
Why work with Darryl Edwards
Movement Oncology™ is Darryl’s specialist exercise oncology service, created to support safe, adapted, evidence-informed movement during cancer treatment, recovery and survivorship.
Darryl Edwards is a London-based exercise medicine and lifestyle medicine practitioner, movement coach, author, speaker and founder of the Primal Play Method®.
He brings 16 years of coaching experience across movement coaching, healthy ageing, strength, functional movement and long-term behaviour change, with specialist work in exercise oncology support.
His approach combines exercise medicine, lifestyle medicine, strength and conditioning, movement coaching and behaviour change support.
His professional credentials include ACSM Cancer Exercise Trainer®, FCIMSPA (Chartered), DFSEM(UK), FBSLM, DipExMed and CertLM. FCIMSPA denotes Fellow of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, and FBSLM denotes Fellow of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
The Primal Play Method® informs how he adapts movement to confidence, motivation, function and enjoyment, while keeping safety and clinical guidance central.
What This Coaching is Not
This is not cancer treatment.
This is not physiotherapy or rehabilitation treatment.
This is not generic fitness programming.
This is not medical advice, diagnosis or medication guidance.
This is exercise oncology support and movement coaching designed to sit alongside your oncology care, clinical guidance and rehabilitation support where appropriate.
Ways to Access Movement Oncology™ Support
Movement Oncology™ support is available through one-off consultations and structured support programmes.
MOVEMENT ONCOLOGY™ SUPPORT
Ways to access Movement Oncology™ support
Movement Oncology™ support is available through one-off consultations and structured support programmes.
01
Initial Movement Oncology™ Lifestyle Assessment
BEST FOR
A full review of diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, movement, nutrition, supplement use, fatigue, stress and lifestyle factors.
02
45-minute Follow-Up Consultation
BEST FOR
Ongoing support to review progress, adapt your programme and address barriers.
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30-minute Follow-Up Consultation
BEST FOR
Focused support for progress reviews, accountability and plan adjustments.
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3-Month Movement Oncology™ Support Programme
BEST FOR
Structured support before, during or after cancer treatment, including regular consultations and email support between sessions.
05
6-Month Movement Oncology™ Support Programme
BEST FOR
Longer-term support through treatment, recovery or survivorship, including regular consultations, email support and survivorship planning.
Consultations are delivered remotely by secure video call. In-person sessions may be available in Chiswick, West London, where appropriate.
Full package details and current prices are available on the Movement Oncology™ packages page.
Before coaching begins, you complete a short intake form covering diagnosis, treatment stage, current treatment, fatigue, pain, mobility, balance, precautions and current medical guidance. This helps ensure support is appropriate and adapted to your situation.
Breast Cancer Exercise Oncology Support
Movement Oncology™ can support people before and after breast cancer surgery, during chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and through hormone therapy or survivorship. Support may focus on strength, fatigue, mobility, confidence, gradual progression and safe return to activity alongside clinical guidance.
In breast cancer survivors, higher post-diagnosis physical activity is consistently associated with better survival outcomes and lower recurrence or mortality risk in observational research.
Prostate Cancer Exercise Oncology Support
Movement Oncology™ can support people during and after prostate cancer treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy and survivorship. Support may focus on strength, muscle loss, fatigue, metabolic health, balance, confidence and long-term movement habits.
Research links regular physical activity after prostate cancer diagnosis with better outcomes. In one large cohort study, men doing at least 3 hours per week of vigorous activity had a 61% lower risk of prostate cancer-specific death compared with men doing less than 1 hour per week. In another prospective study, men who walked briskly for at least 3 hours per week had a 57% lower rate of prostate cancer progression than men who walked at an easy pace for less than 3 hours per week. These findings support the role of regular movement as part of prostate cancer survivorship care.
Lung Cancer Exercise Oncology Support
Movement Oncology™ can support people before and after lung cancer surgery, during chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy, and throughout survivorship or while living with advanced disease. Support may focus on managing breathlessness and fatigue, maintaining strength, improving mobility, rebuilding confidence and adapting physical activity alongside clinical guidance.
Research shows that structured exercise can improve physical function, fitness and fatigue in people with lung cancer, including those with advanced disease. Observational studies also associate higher post-diagnosis physical activity with improved survival.
[Book a free 15-minute discovery call]
For more on Darryl’s wider approach to movement, read about the Primal Play Method® and Movement Is Medicine.
EXERCISE ONCOLOGY IN PRACTICE
Patient experiences with Movement Oncology™
These patient experiences show how exercise-oncology evidence can be translated into individualised practice. Exercise selection, dose and progression are adapted to treatment stage, symptoms, physical capacity, recovery, personal goals and relevant clinical guidance.
BREAST CANCER · SURGERY · CHEMOTHERAPY · RADIOTHERAPY
Sophie S.
Age 47 · Breast cancer treatment and survivorship
Patient perspective
Sophie wanted to remain physically active through treatment while understanding when exercise needed to change as fatigue, recovery and treatment demands changed.
Patient-reported outcome
Sophie stayed physically active across surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and reported feeling stronger, more capable and better equipped to manage the physical demands of treatment. She also developed greater confidence in knowing how and when to adjust her exercise.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Breast cancer treatment involving surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with changing fatigue and recovery demands across several phases of treatment.
Starting challenge
Maintaining strength and physical activity while recognising that exercise tolerance could change substantially from one treatment week to the next.
Challenges addressed
Preserving strength and cardiovascular capacity during treatment, managing fluctuating cancer-related fatigue, maintaining physical activity around chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and avoiding unnecessary deconditioning during periods of reduced capacity.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Strength and cardiovascular exercise were adjusted around treatment phase, fatigue, recovery and weekly capacity. Exercise dose and progression reduced when treatment effects increased, then progressed again when capacity allowed.
PROSTATE CANCER · HORMONE THERAPY · SURVIVORSHIP
Michael R.
Age 68 · Prostate cancer survivorship
Patient perspective
Michael wanted to rebuild strength and fitness after treatment without being treated like a generic fitness client.
Patient-reported outcome
Michael reported rebuilding strength, fitness and confidence in what his body could do. He valued having a programme that felt specific to his treatment history and helped him make steady progress rather than feeling limited by his diagnosis.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Prostate cancer treatment including hormone therapy, followed by longer-term survivorship with changes in strength, energy and physical capacity.
Starting challenge
Reduced confidence in physical capability and uncertainty about how quickly strength and fitness should be rebuilt following treatment.
Challenges addressed
Maintaining and rebuilding muscle strength and physical capacity during and after hormone therapy, while accounting for fatigue, reduced conditioning and treatment-related changes in body composition and everyday function.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Progressive resistance and conditioning exercise were introduced at an appropriate starting dose, with progression adapted to fatigue, treatment history, current function and recovery.
COLORECTAL CANCER · POST-CHEMOTHERAPY · DECONDITIONING
Aisha K.
Age 41 · Colorectal cancer recovery
Patient perspective
After chemotherapy, fatigue and deconditioning made it difficult to judge how much physical activity was helpful and how much might be too much.
Patient-reported outcome
Aisha gradually became more active, stronger and more confident in managing her own activity. Movement shifted from something she worried might worsen fatigue to something that helped her feel more capable and engaged in daily life.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Post-chemotherapy recovery with persistent fatigue, reduced physical activity and loss of conditioning.
Starting challenge
Feeling physically depleted and uncertain about how much movement her body could tolerate without worsening fatigue.
Challenges addressed
Rebuilding strength and activity tolerance after chemotherapy, reversing deconditioning gradually, managing fatigue and restoring confidence in everyday movement without exceeding current recovery capacity.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Resistance exercise, walking, mobility and planned recovery were introduced progressively. Activity was reduced during lower-energy periods and progressed when capacity improved.
LYMPHOMA · POST-TREATMENT · FATIGUE
Christopher K.
Age 70 · Lymphoma recovery
Patient perspective
Changing fatigue levels made it difficult to know whether exercise should continue on difficult days or be stopped altogether.
Patient-reported outcome
Christopher reported feeling stronger, more physically capable and more confident about being active. He became better able to respond to changing fatigue without abandoning exercise altogether and developed a more positive relationship with movement during recovery.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Recovery following lymphoma treatment with substantial variation in fatigue, energy and day-to-day exercise tolerance.
Starting challenge
Uncertainty about how much exercise was appropriate and concern that experiencing fatigue meant physical activity should always be avoided.
Challenges addressed
Maintaining meaningful physical activity despite fluctuating fatigue, preserving strength and mobility, and avoiding the cycle of doing too much on better days followed by complete inactivity when energy levels fell.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Resistance exercise, walking, mobility and pacing were combined within a flexible programme. Exercise dose changed in response to symptoms, fatigue, recovery and relevant clinical guidance.
PROSTATE CANCER · RADIOTHERAPY · ADT
Dave E.
Age 51 · Prostate cancer treatment and recovery
Patient perspective
Dave wanted to preserve physical capability during treatment and remain actively involved in what he could influence about his health.
Patient-reported outcome
Dave described feeling more empowered, physically engaged and less helpless during treatment and recovery. Maintaining meaningful exercise gave him a stronger sense of agency and confidence in the actions he could take to support his physical health.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy, followed by longer-term recovery and survivorship.
Starting challenge
Managing treatment effects while trying to preserve strength, conditioning and everyday physical capability.
Challenges addressed
Maintaining muscle strength and physical function during androgen deprivation therapy, limiting deconditioning, supporting cardiovascular fitness and managing fatigue and treatment-related changes in body composition and physical capacity.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Exercise was adapted around treatment effects, fatigue, current capacity and recovery, with continued emphasis on progressive resistance training, conditioning and meaningful physical activity.
ER+ BREAST CANCER · PREHABILITATION · CHEMOTHERAPY · SURGERY
Donna S.
Age 47 · ER+ breast cancer
Patient perspective
Donna needed exercise to change with her treatment rather than trying to follow one fixed programme from diagnosis through recovery.
Patient-reported outcome
Donna reported less fatigue, better mood and greater confidence during chemotherapy, while continuing to exercise through different stages of treatment. She valued feeling physically prepared for surgery and knowing that her programme could evolve as treatment and recovery progressed.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
A breast cancer pathway spanning prehabilitation, chemotherapy, surgery, recovery and subsequent hormone therapy.
Starting challenge
Preparing physically for treatment while managing fatigue and uncertainty about how exercise should change around chemotherapy, surgery and recovery.
Challenges addressed
Preserving strength and cardiovascular capacity through chemotherapy, preparing physically for surgery, rebuilding function afterwards and supporting longer-term muscular, cardiovascular and bone health during hormone therapy.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Prehabilitation preceded treatment, followed by chemotherapy-aware strength and cardiovascular exercise, pre-operative preparation and post-surgical modification alongside physiotherapy. Longer-term programming incorporated cardiovascular, strength and bone-health considerations during hormone therapy.
BREAST CANCER · RADIOTHERAPY RECOVERY · REMOTE COACHING
Rachel M.
Age 52 · Breast cancer treatment recovery
Patient perspective
Rachel was fatigued after radiotherapy and initially unsure whether remote coaching could provide enough individualisation to be useful.
Patient-reported outcome
Rachel reported noticeably greater energy and strength, fewer daytime naps and more confidence in her physical abilities. Regular movement became easier to sustain because the programme felt achievable, adaptable and enjoyable rather than another burden during recovery.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Recovery following radiotherapy, with reduced energy and a need to rebuild regular physical activity remotely.
Starting challenge
Fatigue combined with uncertainty about whether online exercise coaching could offer sufficient individualisation and adaptation.
Challenges addressed
Rebuilding strength and energy after radiotherapy, reducing inactivity associated with fatigue, restoring confidence in physical capacity and developing an approach to movement that could be sustained outside coached sessions.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Exercise was adapted to treatment history, physical capacity and changing energy levels. Simple movement tasks between sessions helped integrate activity into daily life, with enjoyment and active-play principles used to support adherence.
PROSTATE CANCER · SURGERY · TREATMENT RECOVERY
Denis T.
Age 57 · Prostate cancer recovery
Patient perspective
Surgery and recovery created a period where knowing when and how to resume meaningful physical activity felt particularly important.
Patient-reported outcome
Denis reported feeling better supported, more confident and more able to keep moving through treatment and recovery. Coaching gave him a practical way to rebuild physical activity as his capacity returned and helped him feel more actively involved in his recovery.
Clinical context and Movement Oncology™ approach
Clinical context
Prostate cancer treatment involving surgery and subsequent recovery during a physically and emotionally demanding period.
Starting challenge
Maintaining appropriate movement around surgery while navigating changing symptoms and physical capacity during recovery.
Challenges addressed
Maintaining appropriate movement before surgery, limiting unnecessary deconditioning during early recovery and progressively rebuilding strength, mobility and everyday physical function as post-operative capacity returned.
Movement Oncology™ approach
Movement and exercise were modified before and after surgery, with exercise selection, dose and progression changing as recovery and physical capacity evolved and clinical restrictions allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Movement Oncology™?
Movement Oncology™ is a specialist exercise oncology service created by Darryl Edwards to support people before, during and after cancer treatment. It provides personalised, evidence-informed movement guidance for people living with and beyond cancer, including those receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, immunotherapy or active surveillance. The aim is to help you move safely, improve strength and function, manage cancer-related fatigue, rebuild confidence and support quality of life throughout treatment and survivorship.
Is Movement Oncology™ the same as exercise oncology?
Movement Oncology™ is Darryl Edwards’ branded exercise oncology service.
Exercise oncology is a clinical and research field that studies and applies physical activity and exercise before, during and after cancer treatment. Movement Oncology™ translates this evidence into personalised support for people living with and beyond cancer.
Support is adapted to your diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, fitness level and goals.
Can I access Movement Oncology™ online?
Yes. Movement Oncology™ provides online exercise oncology support across the UK and internationally. Remote sessions can include screening, coaching, programme design, progress reviews and symptom-aware adjustments.
Support is adapted to your diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, energy levels, equipment, space and goals.
What Movement Oncology™ support options are available?
Movement Oncology™ support is available as one-off consultations or structured support programmes. You can book an initial Movement Oncology™ Lifestyle Assessment, 45-minute follow-up consultations, 30-minute follow-up consultations, a 3-Month Movement Oncology™ Support Programme, or a 6-Month Movement Oncology™ Support Programme.
The support programmes include personalised movement guidance, progression reviews, symptom-aware adjustments and email support between consultations. Where relevant, support may also include nutrition, supplement, sleep and stress considerations that affect recovery, activity tolerance and long-term habits.
A free 15-minute discovery call is available first to discuss whether Movement Oncology™ support is appropriate for your diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms and goals.
How do I know if Movement Oncology™ is right for me?
Movement Oncology™ may be appropriate if you want safe, personalised movement support before, during or after cancer treatment, and you are unsure how to exercise around fatigue, pain, weakness, treatment side effects or medical precautions. The free discovery call helps determine whether this support is suitable, or whether medical clearance or another clinical service is needed first.
What happens before coaching begins?
Before coaching begins, you complete an intake form covering your diagnosis, treatment stage, current treatment, fatigue, pain, mobility, balance, precautions and current medical guidance. This helps ensure support is appropriate, safe and adapted to your situation.
Can I exercise during cancer treatment?
Yes, but the type, dose, and timing should match your treatment stage, symptoms, and clinical guidance.
Can exercise help cancer-related fatigue?
Exercise can help reduce cancer-related fatigue when adapted and progressed appropriately. Support may include pacing, resistance training, aerobic activity, mobility work and recovery planning, adjusted to your treatment stage, symptoms and energy levels.
Can exercise reduce cancer recurrence or improve survival?
Exercise after a cancer diagnosis is associated with lower recurrence and mortality risk, with the strongest evidence currently seen in breast and colorectal cancer. Much of the evidence comes from large cohort studies and meta-analyses, where people who are more physically active after diagnosis tend to have better survival outcomes.
Randomised trial evidence is also emerging. In the CHALLENGE trial, people with stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer who began a structured three-year exercise programme after surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy had better disease-free survival than those given health education alone.
The most practical target remains consistent with major physical activity guidance: aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, plus resistance training at least twice per week, adapted to your diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms and clinical guidance.
Movement Oncology™ uses this evidence carefully. Exercise can support fatigue, strength, physical function, treatment tolerance, quality of life and long-term health behaviours. It does not replace cancer treatment or guarantee changes in recurrence, survival or treatment response.
Can exercise support better prostate cancer outcomes?
Research links regular physical activity after prostate cancer diagnosis with better outcomes. In cohort studies, at least 3 hours per week of vigorous activity was associated with a 61% lower risk of prostate cancer-specific death, while brisk walking for at least 3 hours per week was associated with a 57% lower rate of prostate cancer progression. These findings are observational, meaning they show association rather than proof of cause and effect. They still support the role of regular movement as part of prostate cancer survivorship care.
Is the evidence the same for other cancers?
Evidence for physical activity after cancer diagnosis extends beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, but the strength of evidence varies by cancer type.
For lung, ovarian, childhood-onset and other cancers, some studies show protective associations, but findings are less consistent and often affected by differences in cancer type, treatment stage, fitness, symptoms and study design.
Movement Oncology™ uses this evidence carefully. Exercise support is adapted to diagnosis, treatment stage, symptoms, medical guidance and safety considerations.
Do I need medical clearance?
Sometimes. Clearance may be needed after surgery, during active treatment, or where there are bone, heart, immune, nerve, balance or severe fatigue concerns. Please seek medical guidance before starting or increasing exercise if you have recent surgery, bone metastases (cancer spread to the bones), osteoporosis or fracture risk (weaker bones or higher risk of breaks), chest pain, unstable blood pressure, severe breathlessness, anaemia (low red blood cells), neutropenia (low white blood cells), infection risk, neuropathy (nerve pain, numbness or tingling), balance loss, falls risk, severe fatigue, dizziness, fever, uncontrolled pain or unexplained symptoms.
Can you support breast cancer patients?
Yes. Support can be adapted around surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, fatigue, confidence, and gradual return to activity. Research also links regular physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis with better survival outcomes and lower recurrence or mortality risk, although much of this evidence is observational.
Can you support prostate cancer patients?
Yes. Support can be adapted around surgery, radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, fatigue, strength, muscle loss, balance, metabolic health and confidence. Research also links regular physical activity after prostate cancer diagnosis with better outcomes, including lower prostate cancer-specific mortality and lower progression risk in cohort studies. Much of this evidence is observational.
Do you support people with other cancer types?
Yes. Support may be adapted for people living with and beyond different cancer diagnoses, depending on treatment stage, symptoms, medical guidance, fatigue, strength, mobility, bone health, confidence and safety considerations.
What if I have lymphoedema risk?
Exercise may be appropriate, but progression should be cautious and aligned with clinical guidance.
What if I have bone metastases or osteoporosis?
Medical guidance is needed. Exercise selection, loading, impact, balance work, and spinal movements may need careful adaptation.
Is this physiotherapy?
No. This is exercise oncology support and movement coaching. I work alongside medical and rehabilitation professionals where appropriate.
Can clinicians signpost me?
Yes. Patients can self-refer or be signposted by their clinical team.
References
1. Ligibel JA, Bohlke K, May AM, et al. Exercise, diet, and weight management during cancer treatment: ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(22):2491-2507. doi:10.1200/JCO.22.00687.
2. Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(11):2375-2390. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116.
3. Fabi A, Bhargava R, Fatigoni S, et al. Cancer-related fatigue: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(6):713-723. doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2020.02.016.
4. Cormie P, Atkinson M, Bucci L, et al. Clinical Oncology Society of Australia position statement on exercise in cancer care. Med J Aust. 2018;209(4):184-187. doi:10.5694/mja18.00199.
5. Holmes MD, Chen WY, Feskanich D, Kroenke CH, Colditz GA. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. JAMA. 2005;293(20):2479-2486. doi:10.1001/jama.293.20.2479.
6. Cannioto R, Hutson A, Dighe S, et al. Physical activity before, during, and after chemotherapy for high-risk breast cancer: relationships with survival. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021;113(1):54-63. doi:10.1093/jnci/djaa046.
7. Meyerhardt JA, Heseltine D, Niedzwiecki D, et al. Impact of physical activity on cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(22):3535-3541. doi:10.1200/JCO.2006.06.0863.
8. Wu W, Guo F, Ye J, et al. Pre- and post-diagnosis physical activity is associated with survival benefits of colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2016;7(32):52095-52103. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.10603.
9. Morishita S, Hamaue Y, Fukushima T, Tanaka T, Fu JB, Nakano J. Effect of exercise on mortality and recurrence in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420917462. doi:10.1177/1534735420917462.
10. Kenfield SA, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(6):726-732. doi:10.1200/JCO.2010.31.5226.
11. Richman EL, Kenfield SA, Stampfer MJ, Paciorek A, Carroll PR, Chan JM. Physical activity after diagnosis and risk of prostate cancer progression: data from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor. Cancer Res. 2011;71(11):3889-3895. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-3932.
12. Courneya KS, Booth CM, Gill S, et al. Structured exercise after adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025;393:23-34. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2502760.
Ready to discuss Movement Oncology™ support?
Before coaching begins, you complete a short intake form covering diagnosis, treatment stage, current treatment, fatigue, pain, mobility, balance, precautions and current medical guidance. This helps ensure support is appropriate and adapted to your situation.
