The short version
- Some fitness instructors have specialist training in exercise for people with cancer, often called Level 4 cancer rehabilitation instructors.
- CanRehab trains instructors, and the CanRehab Trust charity can match you with a registered cancer exercise instructor, online or in person.1, 2
- Ask about qualifications, insurance and experience before you start, and tell your team.
At a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | Personal trainers and exercise instructors with specialist cancer rehabilitation training |
| Who it’s for | People before, during or after cancer treatment who’d like one-to-one or small-group exercise support |
| Format | In person, at gyms, leisure centres or home, or online |
| Cost | Varies. Private sessions usually cost money. Some leisure centre and charity programmes are free or subsidised |
| How to find one | CanRehab Trust, your local leisure centre, Macmillan Move More, or your breast care nurse |
Information checked November 2026.2
Why use a specialist instructor?
A specialist instructor understands the effects of cancer treatment, such as fatigue, lymphoedema, bone thinning and shoulder problems after surgery. They can:
- plan exercise around your treatment and energy levels
- help you start safely and build up gradually
- adapt exercises after surgery or reconstruction
- recognise warning signs and know when to refer you back to your team
Guidelines recommend that people with lymphoedema start strength training with supervision.3
How to find one
- CanRehab Trust is a charity that matches people living with and beyond cancer with a registered cancer exercise instructor, online or in person.2
- Local leisure centres may have cancer rehabilitation instructors or exercise referral schemes. Ask your GP.
- Macmillan Move More services in some areas run classes and gym programmes with trained instructors.
- Your breast care nurse or physiotherapist may know local services.
Questions to ask
- What cancer-specific training do you have, and when did you qualify?
- Are you insured?
- Have you worked with people after breast cancer surgery, or with lymphoedema?
- How will you adapt the plan if I’m tired or unwell?
- How much does it cost, and is there a free first session?
Other options
- Getting your strength back: a 12-week plan, to do at home
- A personalised digital programme with a coach. See compare UK digital prehab and rehab programmes.
Related pages
References
- CanRehab. Specialist instructor training in cancer and exercise. www.canrehab.com/
- CanRehab Trust. Individualised exercise support for people living with and beyond cancer. www.canrehabtrust.org/
- Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2019;51(11):2375–2390. doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116