The cancer patient helping others return to fitness

A woman from Sheffield has set up an exercise class to help other cancer patients overcome the barriers to regaining their fitness.

Joanne Graham was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 and, following a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, also had her ovaries removed. She struggled to find a fitness class that she felt comfortable with.

Backed by the Weston Park Cancer Charity, the 51-year-old fitness instructor started her own sessions for patients at the Zest Community Centre in Upperthorpe.

She said: "I was nervous about rehabbing myself but when I looked into it, it wasn't that easy to find someone qualified to do it and anybody available, so I decided to launch the course myself."

Graham said: "I've been through it myself, so any questions that they've got, I've already been there.

"I've had the surgery, I understand the joint pains, the tablets, the medication...

"I know how difficult it is to get back to doing what you could do before."

Pilot sessions for the Active Steps classes have already been run, with a dozen cancer patients taking part earlier this year.

All the members of the class have experienced cancer and/or are still undergoing treatment.

Graham is now looking for 24 participants for her next tranche of sessions.

She said the project had transformed and was no longer "just an exercise class".

"It's a bit of a peer support group and an exercise class, we vary it up so we're not just doing circuits, there's trampolines and boxing.

"It's proved a real mental health boost too."

Judith Short was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year which required intensive chemotherapy.

Despite working in the NHS, she admitted she had "no clue" how to begin the rehabilitation process.

"If I'd have gone to a gym, it would have been very difficult to explain just how debilitated I was. It would be so demoralising," she said.

The former doctor described the course at Zest as "absolutely fundamental" in her cancer recovery.

"Being amongst other people who've also had their own treatment and faced cancer has helped me manage the emotional load as well," she said.

"The solidarity has been incredible."

Theresa Thomas, 68, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.

"I was daunted to start exercising again," she said.

"But I felt safe here."

Thomas used to attend dance classes before being diagnosed and has now built up her fitness to start running again.

"It's something I look forward to every week," she said.

"The people here are very positive.

"We all chat, we have a good laugh and that's so important.

"I wouldn't want to come and be somewhere where we were serious and thinking about cancer all the time."

Imogen Winter, Grant Giving Officer at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: "We're really pleased to be supporting the Active Steps exercise programme.

"It's been fantastic to see the impact Active Steps has made in its first year, and we look forward to hearing more about how participants benefit from the future sessions."

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