Patient Eligibility
- All adult cancer patients are eligible, regardless of:
- Type or stage of cancer
- Degree of disability including wheelchair or oxygen dependency
- Position in the cancer care continuum (prehabilitation, during or following treatment and palliation)
- Presence of any combination or complexity of co-morbid conditions
Benefits of FitSteps for Life®:
- Improve survival up to 50% in common cancers
- Increase the quality of life for survivors
- Mitigation of chemotherapy side effects including fatigue and nausea.
- Educate patients about the role and importance of exercise in cancer treatment
- Improve functional capacity
- Alleviate and lessen cancer treatment symptoms
- Identify, modify and manage risk factors to reduce side effects, co-morbidities, and mortality
- Enhance independence
- May enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy
- Enhances the patient immune system in the same pathways as targeted therapy
FitSteps for Life® Approach:
- Medically supervised
- No cost to the patient for their lifetime
- Evidence-based practice guidelines
- Certified cancer exercise professionals supervise the individualized exercises
- Lifestyle modification
- Blood pressure measurement prior and after each session
- Continuous monitor of oxygen levels and pulse during exercise if needed
- Monitored progressive exercise/activity
- Individualized program, typically 3x/week
- Physician referral required
