Cancer exercise group 'saved my life'

When Lindsey Palmer, from Redcar was diagnosed with breast cancer in January, the last thing on her mind was lifting weights.

However, the 55-year-old was referred to a cancer "prehabilitation" group run by the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation - a programme which uses exercise to prepare patients for their treatment by improving physical fitness.

She said the group has made her stronger, as well as improving her anxiety and mental health.

Palmer said the group had helped her to understand her diagnosis.

"It saved my life.

"You wouldn't understand how it's saved me," she added.

She said she felt alone after receiving the diagnosis and that there was a stigma around talking about it with others.

But three weeks before her lumpectomy in March, she was referred to the group.

"You'll get somebody who will say, 'oh yeah I understand', you don't, until you hear it yourself, that fear and sitting in that chair.

"You won't ever get it until you've been through it, and that is the hardest," Palmer said.

Just four days after her surgery, she went straight back to the sessions.

Paul Hampson, 69, from Middlesbrough, was referred to the group in January after being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

He said the sessions were "a little safe place for a couple of hours, twice a week".

Hampson said he also found it difficult to speak to others once getting the diagnosis, as he felt they did not understand what he was going through.

"Some people are a little bit unsure of how to treat you, unsure of what to say, it makes them uncomfortable, because cancer, that word makes people feel uncomfortable," he added.

He has lost 2 st (12.7kg) and improved his fitness, since joining, which he said helps him through his treatment.

The sessions have been held twice a week since January for cancer patients to build up their strength ready for treatment or surgery.

The first half is focused on physical exercise, walking, lifting weights and cardio - then people are given a chance to to sit around a table and share their experiences.

The project was initially funded by the foundation, working with University Hospitals Tees (UHT), which provides the patient referrals.

The first nine months saw 55 people take up the sessions.

In September, the programme was given funding by the English Football League, to become part of the Versus Cancer scheme, which is held at football clubs across the country.

In partnership with the Northern Cancer Alliance, the programme now provides post-treatment rehabilitation and recovery sessions.

Matty Carr, healthier communities coordinator at the MFC Foundation, said developing muscular strength and fitness was really important, but the social element of the group was also really beneficial.

"They get to have a conversation with like-minded people, people who are going through the same journey as them," he said.

Carr believes the sessions make people more relaxed and reduce anxiety which prepares them not only physically, but mentally, for treatment.

Patients are referred through UHT's Optimise programme.

Chloe McMurray, personalised cancer care prehabilitation lead for UHT said: "67% of patients who had engaged with the groups at the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation felt more confident in their physical strength and energy to handle the recovery from their treatment."

She added there was also "an improvement in respiratory scores and reduction in anxiety scores".

Palmer said she still looks forward to the sessions each week.

"I don't know where I'd be, I don't know what road I would've gone down [without them] or anything," she said.

She said it was "absolutely brilliant" that she can now help others joining the group by sharing her experience.

Follow BBC Tees on X,Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds.