Diane Gallagher, project coordinator for the Be Fit for Life program, demonstrates one of the exercises used in the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program. A new session of the weekly program recently launched at Lethbridge College.
By Brett Browne
Diane Gallagher, project coordinator for the Be Fit for Life program, demonstrates one of the exercises used in the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program. A new session of the week program recently launched at Lethbridge College.An exercise program at Lethbridge College is making a difference in the lives of cancer patients.
The Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program is dedicated to improving the physical health and well-being of individuals recovering from the effects of cancer treatment.
At Lethbridge College, the 12-week program is hosted by the Be Fit for Life Centre. Diane Gallagher, projects coordinator for the centre, says the program aims to improve a number of key physical health elements for participants.
“At the beginning of the program, we do some pre-testing with them to see where their baseline levels are at … then we re-test them again at the end of the 12 weeks,” she explained. “During the 12 weeks they go through an exercise program that includes balance, training, flexibility, some strength and cardio conditioning.”
ACE was started as a research program in 2017 by the University of Calgary and involves several sites throughout the province. Lethbridge College came on board with the program in 2018 and has been actively involved since that time.
Gallagher says researchers wanted to investigate the benefits of a post-treatment physical exercise program for cancer patients and determine whether it should become part of the regular course of treatment.
“Currently, it is not part of the cancer care continuum within our health system. And they’re hoping through the research, they can show the significant value it would have for this to be something all folks going through this are able, or strongly encouraged, to participate in. We do see better tolerance to the treatments, improved outcomes from the treatments and just improved quality of life,” she said.
The Be Fit For Life Centre hosts three intakes for the program each year with the most recent class starting April 2. Participants then attend two sessions per week and there is space in each of the classes for up to 12 participants.
Gallagher says that while improving the physical health of participants is important, this often leads to other benefits.
“When you get that strength back, it improves your confidence as well,” she said. “It allows you to feel like you can get out and try things again.”
One indication of the program’s success is that many ACE participants have chosen to return after their initial 12-week session. As a result, Be Fit for Life has established a maintenance group for returning participants.
Roy Ermter is a participant in the maintenance group. He just started his third 12-week session with ACE. He says following cancer treatment, he had significant issues with balance and endurance that have improved significantly through the program.
“It was about 12 months ago that I got I finished my therapy and there are things that I couldn’t do then that I can do now and it is because of this program,” he said. “Between the end of my therapy, which was in March and when I started the program in October, there was very little improvement in my health, but once the program was underway, I could see improvement right away.”
Ermter says he still has a ways to go but is seeing continued physical improvement though the ACE program. The group has also provided an important social connection, allowing him to interact with others who understand what he has been experiencing.
“You’re all in the same boat. We understand things more than a lot of other people. They know you have cancer. They ask how you’re doing and they feel sorry for you, but they don’t really understand what you’ve gone through and what you’re still going through. And everybody in this group understands it because they’re all in the same situation,” he explained.
“Participants really appreciate the environment. They feel really comfortable here and they make some good connections with other people who’ve gone through similar experiences” added Gallagher.
ACE was originally a five-year project, but Gallagher says researchers at the University of Calgary have maintained the program as they continue to build a case for physical exercise programs to be integrated into cancer treatment. Ermter is certainly sold on the concept.
“If people just go home after their treatment, they may never recover properly on their own, because you have to push yourself to this level. I certainly couldn’t see myself doing that on my own,” he stated.