A 'prehabilitation' programme at a Norfolk hospital is aiming to help newly diagnosed cancer patients prepare for their treatment.
The service, which is being piloted at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, will first be offered to people in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
There are plans to extend this to other cancer patients as the pilot evolves.
Patients will be able to make use of a specially designed digital cancer care app to link them with their clinical teams and monitor progress.
They will also have access to specialist exercise classes in a local gym and other lifestyle and psychological support.
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The scheme has been developed in close collaboration with patient representatives, including Rod Earp, from the Together Against Cancer patient user group.
He said: “The programme aims to give patients maximum help in understanding their treatment options, how they will affect them and how they may best adapt so they can react to the new challenges their cancer treatments will bring.”
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The pilot is funded by the East of England Cancer Alliance, which works as part of NHS England to transform local cancer services.
Patient representative Marion Foreman said: “When you get diagnosed with cancer there are no words to explain the myriad of emotions.
"Many of the things that are going to happen next feel out of your control.
"Being offered a place on a prehabilitation programme is like being thrown a lifeline – it answers that big question ‘what can I do?’”
Each patient is invited to attend an assessment clinic where their mobility and general health is assessed by a prehabilitation practitioner.
Recommendations are then made to help patients achieve the best possible level of physical and emotional wellbeing before their treatment starts, such as joining a specially designed exercise class for people with cancer, held at a nearby centre.
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