At Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphatic Solutions (CRLS), we believe that cancer rehabilitation should be proactive – not just reactive. Traditionally, rehab is something patients think about after treatment is finished. But recent research, along with the lived experience of many patients, points to a better approach: starting rehabilitation before cancer treatment even begins. This proactive approach is known as prehabilitation, or simply “prehab.”
By addressing a patient’s physical and psychological wellbeing before surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, prehab sets the foundation for a smoother recovery, improved treatment tolerance, and reduced long-term side effects. It’s about setting patients up for success from day one.
What Is Prehab?
Prehabilitation refers to the process of enhancing a patient’s functional capacity before undergoing medical treatment. In the context of cancer, it means working with a cancer rehabilitation therapist to assess baseline function and address physical, emotional, and nutritional concerns before starting oncological treatments.
Prehab doesn’t replace medical treatment – it works alongside it to improve outcomes. Think of it as strengthening the body and mind before entering a physically and emotionally taxing period. Studies have shown that patients who undergo prehab often have better physical function, shorter hospital stays, fewer post-op complications, and an improved quality of life overall.
Why Start Rehabilitation Before Cancer Treatment?
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery can have significant side effects. These include fatigue, pain, swelling, loss of muscle mass, reduced mobility, and cancer-related lymphoedema – a chronic condition resulting from damage to or removal of lymph nodes.
By addressing these risks early, cancer rehabilitation can help:
- Improve physical fitness and endurance before treatment
- Reduce the risk or severity of lymphoedema
- Support mental resilience through education and guided support
- Prepare patients for what to expect and give them tools to manage side effects
- Identify and treat existing impairments before they worsen
In short, prehab empowers patients to face treatment with strength, confidence, and a proactive plan for recovery.
Lymphoedema Risk Reduction Through Prehab
Lymphoedema is a common and often under-discussed complication following cancer surgery or radiation, particularly when lymph nodes are removed or damaged. At CRLS, we specialise in lymphoedema management and prevention, and prehab plays a vital role in this.
Our team, led by experienced Cancer Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist (OT) and Lymphoedema Therapist Kate Perkins, uses a combination of early surveillance techniques and clinical risk assessment to identify patients at higher risk. One of the cornerstones of our approach is SOZO® bioimpedance spectroscopy – a non-invasive tool that measures extracellular fluid levels in the limbs to detect changes well before visible swelling appears. SOZO provides a Lymphoedema Index (L-Dex) score, helping us track fluid shifts and intervene before symptoms become chronic.
Starting this monitoring before treatment provides a crucial baseline. This makes it easier to identify when changes occur and act quickly – reducing the likelihood that lymphoedema will develop or progress.
Functional Assessments and Personalised Plans
Each patient begins with a comprehensive assessment of their physical, functional, and psychosocial status. This includes:
- Range of motion and strength testing
- Lymphoedema risk assessment
- Fatigue evaluation
- Pain survey
- Education on upcoming treatment and potential side effects
- Baseline SOZO readings (when applicable)
From there, we create an individualised prehabilitation plan, which may include:
- Graduated low-impact to moderate resistance or aerobic exercise
- Breathing and posture correction strategies
- Pelvic floor activation (especially for gynaecological or prostate cancers)
- Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage
- Education on garment use, skin care, and compression strategies
- Nutritional advice and lifestyle adjustments
We also prepare patients emotionally. Cancer is not only a physical battle – it brings fear, uncertainty, and emotional strain. Prehab offers education and emotional support to help patients feel in control of their care.
The Role of Advanced Technology
At CRLS, we believe that combining compassionate, hands-on care with the latest medical technology leads to the best outcomes. In addition to SOZO, we offer OncoLaser™ therapy, a protocol developed by our very own Kate Perkins in partnership with Dr. Catherine Norton.
OncoLaser™ uses MLS® Laser Therapy, a form of Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT), to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation – before, during, and after cancer treatment. The therapy works by emitting synchronised wavelengths of light that penetrate tissue and stimulate cellular repair, boost lymphatic function, minimise fibrosis (scarring of tissue), and accelerate tissue healing post-operatively.
For high-risk patients, introducing OncoLaser™ during the prehab phase can minimise acute side effects and promote better healing post-treatment.
Who Can Benefit from Prehab?
Prehab is appropriate for individuals with a wide range of cancer diagnoses, including:
- Breast cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate and gynaecological cancers
- Melanoma with lymph node involvement
It’s particularly recommended for patients undergoing surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy – especially when those treatments involve lymph nodes.
The Bottom Line: Earlier Is Better
Starting cancer rehabilitation before treatment offers a head start in recovery. It gives patients the chance to understand their body, their risks, and the strategies they can use to maintain function and quality of life.
At Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphatic Solutions, we’re here to support you at every stage – starting from diagnosis. Our team of expert therapists, including Kate Perkins and Caitlin Hobday, are trained in lymphoedema management, post-surgical recovery, and exercise prescriptions tailored to oncology patients.
Ready for prehab?
If you or a loved one is preparing to undergo cancer treatment, don’t wait until side effects appear. Contact us at (02) 4312 7033 to learn more about our prehabilitation services and how we can help you stay strong, supported, and empowered from day one.