New program aims to help cancer patients restore strength and confidence

Toronto -- The Odette Cancer Centre (TSRCC), the comprehensive cancer program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Independent Mobile Assessment Centre are pleased to offer WELLFIT, Canada’s first and only exercise rehabilitation centre for cancer patients.

“Increasing physical and emotional productivity can lead to a sense of empowerment,” says medical director and principal investigator of the program Dr. Teresa Petrella, medical oncologist at Sunnybrook. “By providing cancer patients with a tailored exercise program, we aim to improve their quality of life and hopefully improve their survival.”

The WELLFIT program addresses both the physiological and psychological symptoms related to the disease of cancer as well as the symptoms associated with cancer treatment including nausea, depression, weakness, and fatigue. WELLFIT helps to restore strength, range of motion, and endurance as well as providing a secure setting only for cancer patients.

“Cancer patients have specialized needs that public gyms and exercise facilities cannot provide,” says Todd Carthew, Director of WELLFIT and coowner of Independent Mobile Assessment Centre. “WELLFIT understands the unique needs of TSRCC patients and each patient program is specifically developed to meet those needs.”

WELLFIT is available initially to breast and prostate cancer patients of the TSRCC, who are registered by a referral from their oncologist. It is free to these patients and provides a complete physical and functional assessment with specially trained Certified Kinesiologists who determine program needs based on functional parameters as well as previous cancer treatment.

WELLFIT patients may also participate in studies determining the effectiveness of incorporating an exercise program with current cancer therapies. The program begins its test phase on October 2, 2006 with four breast cancer patients and four prostate cancer patients.