The Bowel Cancer Recovery Toolkit

Sarah Russell aims to fill the gap in the patient pathway where there is little knowledge about rehabilitation and the benefits of exercise after abdominal surgery. Her research, based on a survey of 2700 patients, showed that people become less active and lose confidence after a cancer diagnosis, but being more active can in fact have disproportionately positive effects, with the power to rebuild confidence and self-esteem when most needed. There is also overwhelming evidence that exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage the side effects of cancer treatment - but what is safe and appropriate? Based on her research and long experience of working with stoma patients and others who have experienced abdominal surgery, Sarah sets out step by step what will help to regain fitness and with it a sense of wellbeing. This is a key part of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative and therefore of increasing topicality as survival rates for cancer increase.

Auteur

Sarah Russell is a Clinical Exercise Specialist with a Masters degree in sport and exercise science and over 25 years' experience. She is a qualified cancer exercise instructor. She works as a consultant for ConvaTec (a global medical devices company) and has delivered training to hundreds of NHS nurses and clinicians, educating them about exercise after abdominal surgery. She has also presented to thousands of clinicians around the world at International conferences, regularly speaks at patient workshops for the Ileostomy Association and various cancer support groups, and is recognised as one of the leading specialists in this area. Sarah has published her work in numerous clinical journals including the British Journal of Nursing and the Journal of Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing as well as writing for various other magazines, papers and websites in the UK. Sarah understands the challenges of going through major abdominal surgery and living with a stoma, as she has had an ileostomy herself since 2010. She has gone on to run 27 marathons, various ultra-distance runs and endurance challenges, proving that having a stoma does not limit your life.