Useful resources > Cancer and exercise

Cancer and exercise

Keeping active before, during and after cancer treatment can help both your physical and mental health. Taking regular exercise has so many benefits including helping to reduce fatigue, improving mood and positivity, increasing strength, balance and mobility as well as helping to maintain independence.

Not sure where to start?

Whether you’re an active gym goer or prefer a peaceful stroll in the park, the changes to your body during cancer treatment can be unsettling. That is where Big C comes in; we can support you alongside your clinical team to become or stay active in a safe way.

A lady sitting on the floor in exercise wear, watching an exercise class on the television.

Try our current programmes

Tackle cancer

Join us at the Football Development Centre for a walking football and support group for people affected by cancer.

We meet every Wednesday from 11am – 1pm for an hour of relaxed walking football, followed by a chance to talk with others, meet new people and make friends.

Find out more

A man in football boots standing in a playing field.

Get Moving

We have a wellbeing support programme to help increase your physical activity with a weekly online exercise class and regular 1:1 support.

Find out more

A woman stretching, touching her toes whilst listening to a fitness podcast.

“Big C has given me something to do outside the grey world of cancer and allowed me to mix with other people during the pandemic and reconnect with the world outside”
GET MOVING participant

Gentle exercises to try at home

You can do these movements in your own time and at your own pace, and there are tips in the videos about pacing yourself. If you feel you need support to increase your physical activity safely, consult your cancer care team or GP.

A lady doing gentle exercise sitting on a chair with her arms out and her eyes closed.

Gentle pilates wellbeing workout

Start the workout

Two people doing a seated pilates class with their arms out in front of them

Gentle seated wellbeing workout

Start the workout

Discover more gentle exercise videos on our You Tube channel

Online support

Our Online Support Hub offers a full range of support virtually, ensuring you can still access our services from the comfort of your own home.

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Ask the Nurse

Did you attend an appointment and have questions you didn’t want to ask, or not mention something that is bothering you?

Ask the Nurse

FAQs

Browse our Frequently Asked Questions about the support we offer. If you can’t see the answer you’re looking for, just get in touch.

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Latest fundraising and event news

Five people stand in front of a yellow East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter on an airbase runway. Three people are wearing blue Big C charity t-shirts and two are wearing orange air ambulance flight suits. The group is positioned beneath the helicopter's rotor blades, with a cloudy sky and airfield visible in the background.

Grant Holt joins Superformula Group and Anglian Chemicals for 93-mile ‘The Big Walk’ in support of Big C and East Anglian Air Ambulance

NCFC legend Grant Holt is joining Tom Burkill and Mark Pollard from Superformula Group and Anglian Chemicals for an ambitious 93-mile fundraising challenge.

The exterior of Big C's King's Lynn shop with glass windows showing bridal wear and colourful posters

King’s Lynn community raises enough money to fund over 6,000 hours of specialist cancer support as Big C shop celebrates first anniversary

Big C’s charity shop in King’s Lynn is celebrating its first anniversary this month, marking a year of community support that has helped make a real difference to local families affected by cancer.

NNUH Support Centre temporarily relocated from 1 September

Please be aware that our NNUH Support Centre will be closed on Friday 28 August and temporarily relocated from 1 September while essential maintenance work takes place to improve the flooring throughout the centre.

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Important data security notice following Beacon CRM’s data breach.

Support

At our centres across the region, we offer support to anyone affected by cancer.

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