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Maggie's has found that its prehabilitation sessions, which take place in all Maggie's centres across the UK, not only improves outcomes for people with cancer, but also saves the NHS time and money.

New modelling by Maggie鈥檚, in collaboration with the York Health Economics Consortium, reveals that prehabilitation sessions, which include exercise, could save the NHS at least 拢440,000 a year per Maggie鈥檚 centre, while also freeing up 170 hours of oncology appointments for a local NHS Trust.

The calculation of the exercise saving is based on an academic study by Mizrahi D, Lai JKL, Wareing H, et al published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine that showed patients who participated in exercise interventions had an 8% lower risk of hospital admission than non-exercising controls. The analysis also uses an assumption made by York Health Economics that 25% of cancer patients attending Maggie's will have a hospital admission over the course of one year.

Trailblazer in exercise support for cancer patients

Maggie鈥檚 has been ahead of the curve, offering tailored exercise support to people with cancer in its centres across the UK since 1998. Last year alone, Maggie's provided 13,000 exercise sessions to people with cancer across the country.

Exercise programmes offered at Maggie鈥檚 include weekly sessions of Nordic walking, gym, yoga and tai chi, as well as armchair exercise for those with limited mobility. The benefits of these activities range from:

• improving sleep
• improving mental health
• reducing pain
• reducing fatigue
• increasing bone density

Recommendations for the national cancer plan

As part of the upcoming national cancer plan, Maggie鈥檚 is recommending that its proven exercise programmes be fully integrated into NHS cancer care. Maggie's is also urging for patients to be signposted to their centres at the point of diagnosis, ensuring timely access to vital support.

The call follows a growing body of evidence suggesting that structured exercise regimes can dramatically reduce the risk of cancer returning or a new cancer developing, as well as cutting rates of mortality from the disease.

Evidence presented in Chicago at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting showed that exercise can reduce the risk of cancer patients dying by a third. It can also stop tumours coming back, and is even more effective than some drugs.

A 'no-brainer' for the government and the NHS

Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie鈥檚, says: 鈥淔or many people going through cancer, keeping physically active isn鈥檛 just beneficial, it鈥檚 essential, and there鈥檚 a growing evidence base to support this.

鈥淚n our centres, we鈥檙e able to equip people with the tools they need to get through treatment, and we see first-hand how maintaining physical activity is a vital part of managing the disease.

鈥淲e know that cancer doesn鈥檛 end when treatment does. If the national cancer strategy is serious about boosting survival, it must look very closely at targeted exercise programmes, particularly with the number of people with cancer growing year on year, and more than six million new cases predicted by 2040.

鈥淓mbedding prehab from Maggie鈥檚 in the NHS cancer care pathway is a no-brainer for the government and the NHS - so people with cancer can access the right programme for them, from the moment they鈥檙e diagnosed, throughout treatment and beyond.

"If you or someone you know has a new cancer diagnosis and is worried about keeping fit, just drop into your nearest Maggie鈥檚 centre and speak to one of our expert cancer support specialists."

NHS access to exercise prehab and rehab inconsistent

The NHS does not routinely provide physical activity support for people with cancer. Some cancer alliances recommend rehabilitation, but access remains inconsistent and far from universal.

While exercise offers significant benefits for many people living with cancer, Maggie's emphasises that its support is always tailored to individual needs and circumstances. Participation in Maggie鈥檚 exercise programmes remains entirely optional, and should only be undertaken where appropriate.

Brian from West London lives with advanced renal cancer and was first diagnosed in 2021. He joined a Maggie鈥檚 Nordic walking group after an operation to have his kidney removed.

鈥淚t was a tough time, it really was. For about six months, I couldn't really leave the house, I didn't feel comfortable going outside because if I walked too far, I鈥檇 be out of breath. I just thought you could have a kidney removed and that would be that.

鈥淔irst, they told me that the cancer had spread to my lungs, which was very hard to deal with because I've always done a lot of sport. Then at Christmas they told me it was untreatable.

I started Nordic Walking at Maggie鈥檚 last February and I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 enjoy it as much as I did.

鈥淭he lady who ran the group explained the importance of getting the sticks on the floor to help with your bones and your spine. It was the probably the first major bit of exercise I'd done since my diagnosis, and it had been nearly two years since I'd actually done any real exercise.

鈥淎 similar group of people come each week, so you have a chance to get to know each other. If you want to just walk off by yourself and push a bit harder you can, or if you want to take it easy you can do that as well.鈥�

Brian continues to deal with the day-to-day challenges of having advanced cancer, but remains very active. He recently completed his third triathlon and is looking forward to taking on more for charitable causes.

How Maggie's can help

Whatever kind of cancer, whatever stage you're at, Maggie's is here with you.

Our expert staff are here to listen to your concerns and find the help you need wherever you are 鈥� over the phone and online.

• Just come in 
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at鈥�enquiries@maggies.org 
• Our phone lines and centres are open 鈥疢onday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm