An exercise class just for young adult cancer patients

Young adults make up a very small percentage of the people treated at the Cedars Cancer Centre, but they need support that is customized to their needs at their stage of life.

Enter a new free kinesiology class for patients between the ages of 18 and 39 that is just getting off the ground and looking for participants.

“Young adults are hitting so many milestones: gaining independence, setting goals for their future, starting careers and relationships... A cancer diagnosis is very shocking and can turn their world upside down,” says Rachelle Dinur, a nurse navigator who works with Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients at Cedars and is leading this initiative.

She and the other organizers of the classes have two goals:

• Help patients stay fit and/or get back to being active during and after their treatment.
• Give patients a way to make social connections at a time when they might feel very alone.

“If you go into an average treatment room downstairs, there will probably be one patient who falls in that age bracket compared to 10 patients who are older,” explains Rachelle. “If you are a 25-year-old, you might not want to go to an exercise class with a 65-year-old because you don’t have much in common aside from cancer and, even at that, the types of cancer and what the patients are going through emotionally and physically can be quite different. It can feel very isolating.”

Breast, testicular and sarcoma are the most common cancers treated in AYA patients at the hospital. In 2021, only 360 of the nearly 5200 patients diagnosed with cancer at the Cedars Cancer Centre were in the AYA age group.

What is kinesiology?

Kinesiology is the study of body movement and kinesiologists use adapted physical exercise to help patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life.

The classes, designed for groups of four to six people, are being offered in collaboration with Cedars CanSupport and the Quebec Cancer Foundation. Participants will meet in a room in the main area of the Cedars Cancer Centre on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. The program is for six consecutive weeks and involves:

• weekly 60-minute group exercise led by a kinesiologist from the Quebec Cancer Foundation
• a one-hour personalized session with the kinesiologist

Before starting their first class, participants will fill out a health questionnaire from the kinesiologist. “This will give him a better understanding of what each patient is experiencing and how he can help them,” explains Rachelle.

Reasons for joining the class

The benefits of physical activity for young cancer patients go beyond strengthening muscles and improving flexibility. They can also include:

• decreased side effects from treatment
• higher energy levels
• reduced anxiety and depression
• improved self-image
• increased overall well-being

“Taking part in this kind of class can also give participants a sense of community and peer support,” says Rachelle.

Denis Jolicoeur, a kinesiologist with the Quebec Cancer Society, has worked with many AYA cancer patients. “The exercise gave them a sense of being more in control,” he says. “They regained confidence in their physical ability.”

How to sign up

Registration is simple and the classes and personalized session are free of charge. Anyone interested can submit their information. They’ll receive a call soon after to verify their age and make sure they have their doctor’s okay to begin working out.

“The elastic bands and small Pilates balls will be provided. All the participants have to do is bring themselves and a towel. As soon as we have four to six people registered, we are ready to go!” says Rachelle enthusiastically. “We want this to be a way for our younger patients to get moving, make connections and, maybe for one hour, forget about the treatments and any negative emotions they may be having and just focus on themselves and being in the moment.”

For any questions, contact [email protected] .