A new fitness program for cancer survivors will soon be available in Lloydminster.
The Exercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well program, or EXCEL, will be available virtually for cancer survivors in the Border City and area. It will be open for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer, is currently in treatment, or anyone who is up to three years post-treatment. The program, designed by the University of Calgary, has been tested in Edmonton as well before being brought to rural areas by organizations like the Lloydminster Primary Care Network.
Lloydminster Primary Care Network Exercise Specialist Heather Mielke says the workouts will be adapted as they go for people based on things like health factors.
“It’s not a one size fits all program, meaning that exercise can be tailored for anyone depending on where they’re at physically and what their needs are, and things will change as they progress through the program.”
EXCEL will be online in Lloydminster via the Zoom conferencing program starting September 14th. People wanting to get involved will first go through a digital screening with the University of Calgary to determine if the program is a good fit for them. After that, they’ll begin a twelve-week fitness regiment with other survivors needing minimal or no equipment to do it.
Mielke explains that working out in this group setting can have numerous benefits for people in any stage of their cancer battle.
“It also improves how [cancer survivors] function, so how they manage with their day to day life, by increasing their strength, their endurance, stamina and their mobility and flexibility. Then on the mental health side of things, people going through a cancer journey are at a higher risk of depression and anxiety and exercise can certainly improve that as well.”
People wanting to get into EXCEL are encouraged to reach out to the University of Calgary by email or the Lloydminster Primary Care Network over the phone at 780-874-0490.