Is tumour removal surgery needed before cancer rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation is a set of supportive therapies that can address strength, movement, fatigue, nutrition, speech, swallowing, work tasks or emotional adjustment. Prehabilitation may start before surgery to build a safe baseline and prepare for recovery. After surgery, the programme may change as wounds heal and activity restrictions lift. Some people need rehabilitation during chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment, even when surgery is not part of their care. The plan is coordinated with the oncology and surgical teams.

Tell the team about changes in walking, balance, pain, eating, sleep, concentration or daily activities. Ask for an assessment by the appropriate rehabilitation professionals before treatment decisions are finalised. Follow movement and wound instructions after surgery, and report exercises that cause sharp pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness.

Contact the clinical team urgently for new weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion or a wound that is opening or draining heavily. Rehabilitation exercises should pause until the team advises what is safe when these symptoms occur.

Ask whether rehabilitation should start before treatment, which goals matter most now, how surgery could change the programme, and who to contact if your function worsens between visits.