canconquer

Colorectal Cancer & Exercise

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:22:25 GMT

When Movement Becomes Medicine

A diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer doesn’t just land in your medical file – it lands in your body. Surgery, chemo, changes to your bowels or stoma, fatigue, muscle loss, fear of moving… it’s a lot.

At CanConquer , we use targeted exercise as medicine to help people with colorectal cancer move, cope, and live better – from first diagnosis, through treatment, and into long-term survivorship. And it’s not guesswork. It’s built on powerful research.

The CHALLENGE Trial: Why Exercise Isn’t “Just Exercise”

Our colorectal cancer program is modelled on the landmark CHALLENGE Trial (2025) – a large study looking at what happens when people with colon cancer take part in a structured, supervised exercise program after treatment.

The results were game-changing. People in the exercise group had:

Around a 37% reduction in colon cancer deaths
Better disease-free survival (they stayed cancer-free for longer)
Improved physical function – more strength and capacity for everyday life
Greater cardiovascular fitness , supporting long-term heart and metabolic health

If this “exercise medicine” came in pill form, we’d all line up for it. It’s not a pill. But it is something we can prescribe in a very specific, evidence-based way. That’s exactly what CanConquer is built to do.

The CanConquer 3-Stage Colorectal Cancer Pathway

Colorectal cancer isn’t a single moment – it’s a whole timeline. So our program is designed to support you across three key stages:

1. Train for Treatment (Prehab)

Before surgery or chemo, we focus on getting your body as strong and prepared as possible .

Targeted aerobic and strength work
Core, pelvic floor and postural support
Education around fatigue, bowel changes and recovery

Prehab aims to give you more “reserve” going into treatment – so you’ve got a better platform to bounce back from.

2. Move Through Chemo

During chemo (and/or radiation), everything can feel harder – energy, motivation, nausea, bowel changes, neuropathy.

This is where precise, supervised exercise makes a real difference.

Carefully dosed sessions to manage fatigue , not worsen it
Strength and balance work to protect function and independence
Gentle core and mobility for post-surgical or abdominal stiffness
Emotional support and confidence that you’re not “breaking your body” by moving

We adjust your program week by week around side-effects, scans, surgeries and how you actually feel when you walk through the door.

3. Stronger Than Before (Survivorship)

When treatment finishes, people often hear, “Great, you’re done – off you go.” But your body, bowels, energy and headspace can feel anything but “done”. Our Stronger Than Before phase is about rebuilding for the long game:

Rebuilding muscle mass lost during treatment
Improving cardiovascular fitness for heart and metabolic health
Addressing ongoing fatigue, pain, and stiffness
Building sustainable exercise habits so movement becomes a normal part of your life again, not a temporary “program”

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s momentum – in your body, your confidence, and your life.

What Does a CanConquer Session Actually Look Like?

At CanConquer, exercise doesn’t mean being thrown into a “one-size-fits-all” gym program. You can expect:

A thorough assessment , where we listen to your story, your treatment plan and your worries
Simple baseline testing – strength, balance, fitness, surgical/abdominal changes, fatigue levels
A tailored plan that might include:
Treadmill or bike intervals at the right intensity for you
Strength work for legs, hips, core and upper body
Balance and coordination if chemo or neuropathy have knocked your confidence
Gentle mobility and scar/abdominal work where appropriate

We explain the why behind everything, in normal language – not just “3 sets of 10”. You don’t have to be fit, sporty or confident to start. You just have to show up as you are.

Who Is the Colorectal CanConquer Program For?

This program is for people with colon or rectal cancer who are:

Waiting for or preparing for surgery
Going through chemo and/or radiation
Living with a stoma
In follow-up/survivorship and wanting to reduce risk and feel stronger
Struggling with fatigue, muscle loss, bowel or abdominal changes, or fear of moving

We also work closely with your wider treating team (surgeons, oncologists, nurses, GPs) so exercise sits alongside – not instead of – your medical treatment.

Movement, Medicine and Momentum for Life

Colorectal cancer changes your body. Targeted exercise can help change it back – and, in some cases, help change your future.

At CanConquer, inside PhysioHealth Corrimal , we’re here to:

Turn evidence into a clear, practical plan
Turn fear of movement into confidence
Turn treatment into an opportunity to build a stronger, more supported you

Tutto è possibile – everything is possible. One carefully designed step at a time.

Exercise & Breast Cancer

Tue, 20 May 2025 02:03:56 GMT

Is exercise safe with metastatic breast cancer?

What the Research Is Now Telling Us

At CanConquer, we often hear the question: “Is exercise still safe for me if I have metastatic breast cancer?” Thanks to new, high-quality research, we can confidently say: yes, and not only is it safe, it’s incredibly beneficial when done right.

Living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a daily challenge—physically, emotionally, and mentally. While treatments continue to evolve, many people are left managing fatigue, pain, insomnia, and disruptions to their everyday life. But here’s some encouraging news: exercise isn’t just safe for many people with MBC, it might actually be one of the most powerful tools we have to improve quality of life.

For many years, exercise was considered too risky or simply not a priority in advanced cancer care. But that narrative is shifting, fast, and CanConquer is proud to be part of this movement in the Illawarra and beyond.

Exercise: Not Just for the Healthy

It’s well established that exercise during early-stage cancer treatment can boost strength, reduce fatigue, and support mental health. But for a long time, those with advanced or metastatic cancer were left out of the picture. That’s changing, thanks to robust research and new guidelines. One of the largest and most important studies to date,the EFFECT trial, is helping shine a light on what’s possible.

At CanConquer, we’re committed to changing the narrative around cancer care. Exercise is medicine, and for those living with advanced cancer, it can make a real difference.

What the Research Says

A groundbreaking international study, The EFFECT Trial (Project on Exercise for Fatigue Eradication in Advanced Breast Cancer to Improve Quality of Life), published recently in 2024, is changing the landscape. ( https://www.h2020preferable.eu/ )

Here’s what you need to know:

The study followed 357 women with stage 4 breast cancer across eight clinical centres in Europe and Australia.
One group completed a 9-month structured and supervised exercise program; the other received general physical activity advice only.
Researchers measured outcomes at 3, 6, and 9 months.

Tailored & Supervised: Why It Matters

Not all exercise is suitable for someone going through metastatic cancer, especially if they have bone, brain, or lung involvement. The key is individualisation, and that’s what we specialise in at CanConquer.

Our programs are:

Supervised by university-trained Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists with expertise in cancer care
Adapted for energy levels, symptoms, and medical history
Designed to work alongside active treatment—not against it
Safety is paramount. There are some signs that you may need to pause or specifically modify exercise. This is where professional guidance becomes essential. We work closely with your medical team to ensure your program is safe and effective.

Some days, a gentle walk may be all you can manage. Other days might involve light resistance training or mobility work. There’s no “right” way, only your way , supported by our team.

Key Findings

Fatigue significantly improved in the supervised exercise group.
Quality of life scores rose – particularly in physical, emotional and social functioning.
No increased risk of serious side effects was observed.
Pain, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical fitness all showed meaningful improvement.

In simple terms: structured exercise works. And, it’s safe.

What Kind of Exercise Are We Talking About?

The program was highly individualised, including:

Supervised aerobic and resistance sessions twice per week (initially) with specific protocols in each exercise to elicit a physiological response.
Encouragement for daily physical activity, supported by trackers and an exercise app
Tailoring around symptoms, side effects, and individual capability

At CanConquer, we use similar principles to guide our programs. Whether someone is newly diagnosed or several years into their journey, we prioritise evidence based strategies, individual needs, safety, and support.

But Isn’t Exercise Risky with Bone Metastases?

Great question, and yes, caution is required.

Bone metastases are common in Metastatic Breast cancer (MBC), especially in the spine, pelvis, ribs, and femur. Certain movements (e.g. twisting, heavy loading, deep bending) can potentially increase fracture risk.

That’s why at CanConquer:

We assess fracture risk using tools like the Mirels score and imaging reports.
We use safe movement guidelines, such as avoiding torsional loads and preferring supported, low-impact training.
We coordinate with your medical team to ensure you’re cleared to move safely.

The EFFECT trial proved that, when these precautions are taken, exercise is not only safe, it’s powerful.

The CanConquer Approach

We believe in:

Exercise as medicine — delivered by qualified professionals with experience in oncology
Customised care that respects where you’re at, physically, emotionally and where you are on your treatment regime and the type of protocol..
A supportive environment that helps you reconnect with movement, even on your hardest days, to improve your energy levels and quality of life.
With advances in treatment, many people with MBC are living longer. The focus now is on living well. Targeted science based exercise prescription plays a central role in that mission.

Key Takeaways

Supervised, individualised exercise should be part of standard care for people with all cancers, and metastatic breast cancer.
It can help manage fatigue, improve quality of life, reduce pain, and enhance physical function.
Safety matters, especially with bone involvement. An educated and experienced team (like ours at CanConquer) knows how to guide you safely and get you the changes you need.

What This Means for You (or a Loved One)

If you’re living with metastatic breast cancer:

You don’t have to face it alone.
Talk to your oncologist or GP about including a cancer-specific exercise physiologist in your care team.
Seek out programs like those offered by CanConquer that are evidence-based, supportive, and personalised.

Our goal is to help you regain control, restore strength, and improve quality of life—no matter where you are on your cancer journey.

Final Word

Metastatic breast cancer doesn’t mean giving up on movement. In fact, movement, when done safely,can help you feel better, function better, and live better.

The EFFECT study has shown us what’s possible. Now it’s time to make it happen in practice. At CanConquer, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Exercise is no longer optional in cancer care. It’s essential. Let’s make it standard.