Post-treatment

Survivorship is often considered as the period after the completion of adjuvant or definitive primary treatment (post-treatment). Patients often refer to rehabilitation during this stage as helping them ‘return to normal.’

The aim of exercise during this phase is to:

• address any ongoing impairments related to cancer treatment
• improve function
• reduce risk of recurrence through promotion of long-term positive physical activity behaviour

The presentation of patient impairments can vary widely depending on the impact of their treatment and time since treatment completion. For example, some patients may continue to experience debilitating fatigue, others may experience  late treatment effects and some may have very few physical impairments. Therefore, exercise should be tailored to the individual in the context of their cancer history, co-morbidities and goals.