How to use the Protocol PDF

How to Rebuild Your Energy and Overcome Fatigue Using The Climb Back from Cancer™ Protocol* and The American College of Sports Medicine Physical Activity Guidelines

Please take a moment to watch this informative video on the Survivor Fatigue Study:

Please Note:
The type and intensity of each activity session (i.e. mild, moderate or vigorous) is tailored to each participant based on the results of a variety of evaluations conducted by qualified and trained exercise physiologists under the supervision of an oncologist or other qualified physician. Not all types of activities are suitable for all survivors — anyone who has or has had cancer from diagnosis through the rest of their lives, including those in treatment. Those with specific types of cancer, side effects of treatment and pre-existing conditions may not necessarily be able to safely engage in all types and intensities of physical activity. That is why it is extremely important that survivors be carefully evaluated by qualified professionals under proper medical supervision.

Step 1: A “Light” Version of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors1

10 to 30 minutes of mild to moderate2 cardiovascular activity every other day.

(1) The ACSM physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors are that they should avoid inactivity and return to normal daily activities as soon as possible following diagnosis and aim to ultimately exercise at least 150 minutes per week. This should include strength training exercises at least 2 days per week.

(2) An exercise physiologist with cancer-specific training, experience and knowledge can help you determine what mild to moderate is for you, as well as what type of activity is safe and appropriate for you. The ACSM has a Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer (CET) program. For more information, contact: The American College of Sports Medicine, 401 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-3233 Tel. 317-637-9200 Fax. 317-634-7817 www.acsm.org

Step 2: The Climb Back from Cancer Protocol

The Climb Back from Cancer Protocol Session A: 30 minutes of mild3 cardiovascular activity Session B: (2 days later) 15 minutes of vigorous3 cardiovascular activity Session C: (2 days later) 20 minutes of moderate3 cardiovascular activity.

(3) The type and intensity of each activity session is tailored to each participant based on the results of a variety of evaluations conducted by qualified exercise physiologists with cancer-specific training, experience and knowledge, under the supervision of an oncologist or other qualified physician. Not every survivor can engage in these activities.

Please see the 3 other protocol-related documents on this site for further details

*The Climb Back from Cancer Protocol is in the experimental stages and hence this document is for discussion purposes only. Until full clinical trials of the protocol are completed and the results are peer-reviewed, approved and published, use of The Climb Back from Cancer Protocol must not be undertaken without proper supervision by qualified medical personnel and exercise physiologists with cancer-specific training, knowledge and experience in a controlled and properly equipped environment. If you wish to assume any and all risks in trying the protocol and/or the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines, you must first consult a physician. If your physician approves your participation, you must then professionally engage an exercise physiologist(s) with cancer-specific training, knowledge and experience before becoming involved in any activity related to the protocol or the ACSM physical activity guidelines. Thereafter, all activity sessions must be supervised by this/these professional(s) in a proper setting. Failure to comply with any of these directives could result in loss or change of health, accident, injury, or death to the participant and/or those around them. Therefore, all risks are those of the participant(s). Neither the author(s), Climb Back Inc., The Climb Back from Cancer Foundation, the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, the University of Calgary, any member of the Survivor Fatigue Study team, the ACSM or any other associated individual(s), institution(s), entity(s) or body(s) whatsoever, whether named or unnamed, assumes any liability whatsoever. Any and all risks are entirely those of the participant(s).

Fatigue Study & Protocol PDF Download Available Here: InsideCBfCProtocol

Please feel free to share this information with others. If you do, please attribute it as follows:
© 2004 Alan Hobson (Updated December 2013)
2-Time Cancer Survivor & Climb Back from Cancer Survivorship Program Founder
Protocol Co-Creator, www.SurviveCANcer.ca

Many Thanks!