As part of a pilot project, The Primrose Foundation is proud to be working with the breast cancer recovery programme https://gentlerecovery.co.uk/ team by providing a limited number of FREE places to primrose patients.

The Gentle Recovery programme is an online, bespoke, patient-centred support and recovery course for those who have had breast cancer surgery and are either currently receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy or who have finished active breast cancer treatment.

The holistic programme consists of two sections providing varying levels of gentle well-researched movement exercises, along with a walking programme, lymph drainage exercises and audio relaxation sessions.

The first ‘DURING treatment’ section supports women after surgery but still undergoing adjuvant treatment, and then a second section supports rehabilitation after active treatment ends. Women can start the programme at either of these stages pending approval from their breast nurse specialist.

The ‘AFTER active treatment’ section features 12 progressive rehabilitation modules of low impact, but gently progressive exercise sessions. Each session begins with a focus on regaining a healthy posture, core rehabilitation and shoulder mobility. The sessions then gently progress to whole-body conditioning, regaining joint mobility, all-body strengthening, shaping and toning.

Within each module, participants will also find weekly audio relaxation sessions and educational chapters on breast cancer-specific topics (nutrition, sleep, stress management, emotional well-being, intimacy and fatigue management).

There is also an online community hub where women on the programme can connect with other participants, ask questions and get expert support from the programme tutor, India Gooderham.

If this online recovery course sounds like something that you would like to participate in please speak to your nurse specialist at the Primrose Breast Care Centre.

Who is the gentle recovery programme for?

The Gentle Recovery programme is suitable for women who have had breast cancer surgery and are either currently receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy or who have finished active breast cancer treatment. You MUST be able to move on and off the floor (i.e., moving from standing to lying on your back) with relative ease and have a reasonable level of mobility i.e., be able to walk unaided for at least 5-10 minutes and be able to move both arms out to the side.

This course is not for women with the following conditions.

• Osteoporosis

• Unhealed wounds

• Pregnancy

• Sciatica

• Hernia

• Bone metastases – unless consent from an oncologist is given that your bones are stable

• Hypertension - uncontrolled

• Surgery within the last 6-8 weeks (breast reconstruction may need over 2 months of recovery time before exercise can be started, be sure to speak to your healthcare team about this)

• Unstable blood sugar levels

• Very low blood pressure

• Joint injury/pain (including back pain) that has not been medically assessed or treated

• Frozen shoulder (review by physio would be indicated if shoulder flex and/or abduction is limited to 90 degrees).

If you require more information about this recovery programme before speaking to your nurse specialist, please email India on mygentlerecovery@gmail.com