Cancer sufferers are to get free gym sessions to boost their chances of survival
Guided workouts will be offered to some cancer sufferers as research shows exercise before surgery helps to reduce complications
CANCER sufferers are to get free gym sessions to boost their chances of survival.
Tumour patients will have guided work-outs before their surgery to remove the disease.
It follows trials showing exercise before a cancer op speeds up recovery and slashes life-threatening complications.
Medics found using an exercise bike just three times a week led to earlier discharge from hospital.
The £2.3m scheme is being run by doctors at six hospitals across Hampshire and Dorset, led by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Patients will get regular gym sessions after they have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy but before their scheduled surgery.
Psychologists will also be on hand to lend support.
Cancer victims will be followed up to see how long they need to stay in hospital after going under the knife.
Researchers will also analyse survival rates and patients’ quality of life.
The findings will then be compared with patients who did not exercise.
A 2014 pilot project at Southampton revealed bowel cancer patients who attended the gym three times a week were discharged more quickly.
They also had lower readmission rates – where complications meant further treatment – and had a better quality of life.
Researcher Dr Sandy Jack said: “This is extremely exciting.
“It will widen access to something that we’ve shown changes patients’ wellbeing.”
A similar pilot is underway at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Nearly 1500 patients in the area are being recruited to a trial to see if exercises at home can boost survival from bowel cancer.
Patients are given daily work-out for the three to four weeks before an op and up to six weeks afterwards.
Professor Mike Grocott from Southampton University added: “We know that patients who are physically fitter recover better from surgery across a range of outcomes, so it is now important we try to increase access to some of these pioneering practices.”
Cancer Research UK spokesman Martin Ledwick said: “Many patients find exercise helps them during cancer treatment.
“We need more evidence on whether exercise is effective and how much to do – so patients get the best advice possible.”
Robot op 'no better'
CANCER and kidney patients do not fare better if given costly robotic surgery, a study reveals.
Hospitals are moving away from operations performed by hand. More medics are opting to be assisted by a machine.
The robot-assisted procedures each cost the NHS around £1,000 extra.
But a Leeds University study suggest this new technology does not offer better success rates.
Neil Mortensen, Royal College of Surgeons spokesman, said the technology would get better.
