Cancer rehabilitation

When you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, or are having treatment, there are things you can do to stay as well as possible.

There is growing evidence that improving fitness, nutrition and wellbeing in the pre-treatment period, and during cancer treatment, can mean side effects are less intense and recovery is faster.

We understand people will often feel overwhelmed in the period between diagnosis and treatment, making it difficult to introduce changes to exercise and diet. The information on our website suggests simple changes to help keep you active before starting, during, and after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.

Reach out for support

One key to success is involving your family, whānau, friends or colleagues in your plans. They can help by shopping for you, preparing nutritious meals and doing activities such as walking or simple exercise routines with you. Our BCFNZ nurses are also here to provide you with information, encouragement and a boost to confidence when you need it. They also work closely with specialist health professionals including Pinc and Steel physios across New Zealand so can advise you about specialist support in your local community.

Plan your approach

We recommend people contact our nurse team as soon as they can following a diagnosis, or even before this when waiting for results. Our nurses work with people over the phone to:

• Assess individual needs
• Provide information about maintaining fitness, nutrition and wellbeing throughout cancer treatment
• Help you prepare for post-surgical exercises
• Support you to continue exercising and build fitness in the months and years following treatment
• Connect you to health professionals and community groups offering rehabilitation exercise in your region.