News & Stories

Spring 2026 Participant Newsletter

Meet fellow participants and learn about their motivation and health benefits of physical activity after cancer diagnosis.

In this edition, two Generations Study participants tell us about their motivation to increase physical activity after their breast cancer diagnosis. They share their concerns, perceived health benefits of being more active, and the types of support they believe could help others who are considering becoming more physically active.

Alison L.

I felt I needed to get as physically fit as possible post treatment to support both my mental and physical health recovery.  I was still reeling from my diagnosis and questioning ‘why me?’  I wanted to get back into yoga that I’d been practicing since 2004, as yoga has always offered time just for me and a nervous system reset.  I had also always enjoyed walking in nature and wanted to use this to help my recovery.

  • Friends encouraged and supported me with this as it took a while to build up strength due to my treatment.  I set myself a goal to run a 5k in the local area, so I started the Couch to 5k programme to support and motivate myself. It took me 6 months to learn to run again and complete the race. I was also invited to a quiet women-only swimming session which I found to be so therapeutic – it was supposed to be aqua aerobics, but the teacher was poorly herself, so it became a very gentle swim, building upper body strength and getting into a swimming costume again.  Immediately post treatment I felt very insecure and physically weakened.  So, getting out in the fresh air everyday rain or shine, yoga and some gentle swimming really enabled my recovery.  Increasing my physical activity helped me to strengthen my upper body and start to get me out again amongst people who did not know about my breast cancer diagnosis.

    I had some concerns about being physically active after my diagnosis.   I was very worried about my surgical scars following a full mastectomy and DIEP Flap reconstruction.  The reconstructed breast felt very large and I felt very self-conscious about this.  I had had 3 surgical procedures on this breast due to a bleed following the first surgery and it therefore took a long time to recover and settle down.  It was very difficult to find a bra to fit – all contributing to my concerns about becoming physically active again.  But I was advised by my plastic surgeon that I needed to start exercising and not be so fearful about my internal sutures.  As a nurse myself, I recognised how important it was to start increasing my physical activity.  At the time of my recovery, some of my close girlfriends signed up for the Moon Walk, and as I had recovered my physical strength whilst they were practicing, I joined them on these gentler walks.

    Increasing my level of physical activity has made me stronger and fitter now than before I had my breast cancer diagnosis. I practice yoga daily and walk in nature 5 times a week.  I have found the main health benefits for me are the acceptance of my breast cancer and acknowledgement of how being physically active has helped me through my journey.  I now recognise how amazing my body is everyday – for the first-year post diagnosis, I felt let down by my body.  I am fit and well and have no health issues to report; I sleep well – being physically active really helps me to sleep and wake feeling refreshed.   I have noticed that if I have not exercised for a couple of days, my joints start stiffening up which is a great incentive to remain physical active.  Having a ‘friend’ to give support and help rebuild strength, confidence and physical activity is a great incentive.

    I think gentle yoga sessions, maybe on a one to one would be helpful to patients, helping to build trust in their body again.   The breathing practice and relaxation enabled me to calm my mind and start the acceptance process of my diagnosis which I was finding very difficult at the time.   Also, walking in nature, even if just a few steps everyday with someone to accompany breast cancer patients, and swimming at a quiet time designed for women with physical health issues, would be of great benefit.

    Since my diagnosis and treatment, I have trained as a yoga teacher and yoga therapist and hope to build my next career stage supporting other people with a cancer diagnosis to start physical activity again.