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Hello, my name's Nicola
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and I'm a clinical specialist physiotherapist here at Cambridge University Hospitals.
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We encourage patients to play an active role in preparing for surgery and oncology treatment.
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It's important for your recovery and longer term outcomes to be as fit and as well before surgery as possible.
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If you already take part in regular exercise, try continue doing this as much as you feel able to.
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If however, you do not normally undertake exercise, try to become less sedentary and more physically active in the time leading up to your surgery or start of your cancer treatment.
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Alongside being more physically active, giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake can help in preparation for surgery or treatment.
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It's also important for you to eat well and ensure that you are well nourished to help your body fight off infections and recover quicker.
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You can ask your clinical nurse specialist or treating team if you would like an appointment with one of our specialist dietitians.
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Here at CUH, we offer the fit for surgery service for most patients undergoing major surgery, particularly those having orthopaedic, gynaecological, colorectal, and upper GI surgery.
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This forms part of the pre-assessment process for patients having surgery and helps you prepare for your admission.
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Your clinical nurse specialist or consultant will refer you to the service if appropriate.
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Breathing exercises are often encouraged as part of your preparation for surgery.
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Deep breathing exercises help your heart and lungs to function properly after an anaesthetic and help you clear sputum from your chest if you're struggling to do so.
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We encourage that you begin practising your deep breathing exercises before you come in for your surgery, and you'll be encouraged to restart them early after your surgery.
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You may even be asked to start doing these deep breathing exercises whilst you're still in the recovery on the day of your surgery.
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Some patients may require the help of an incentive spirometer to help them with their breathing exercises.
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However, this is not necessary for most patients.
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It is important to make sure that your pain is well controlled, so that you are able to take a deep breath in.
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You may find it useful to have a rolled up towel close to hand when you do these breathing exercises in case you feel that you need to cough.
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This wound support will help you perform a more comfortable, stronger cough to help clear any sputum or secretions on the chest that you may have following the anaesthetic.
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A huff, which is a forced breath out through an open mouth, it's particularly effective at helping you bring up sputum.
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Try to make sure that you are sat up, as upright as possible.
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Take a slow deep breath in through your nose, hold the breath for a slow count of three, and then slowly breathe out again through your mouth.
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Perform five of these deep breaths with your rolled up towel as a wound support close to hand.
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If you feel that you have some loose sputum or phlegm on your chest to bring up, try two to three of these huffs to aid the removal.
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Support your incision using the wound support with a firm downward pressure, should you need to cough.
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Repeat this sequence two to three times every waking hour.
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Physiotherapists work on the intensive care and high dependency units as well as the inpatient wards here in the hospital, and you may be visited by a therapist during your stay if you are having any issues with coughing, mobilising, or feeling unsteady on your feet in those early post-operative days.
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It is common for patients to be helped out into their chair either in the evening of the day that they've had their surgery and certainly in the first day following their operation.
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This may be daunting for many, but this early mobilisation is safe and will help you recover quicker and be less likely to develop post-operative complications associated with immobility.
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You will not be expected to do this on your own to start with, and therapists and nursing staff will be on hand to help you in and out of bed in those early post-operative days.
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Circulatory exercises are also encouraged whilst you're not moving around as you would normally do so.
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Try to move your ankles and your feet forward, backwards, and in circles to help reduce the swelling and minimise the risk of developing blood clots.
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This should be done every half an hour whilst you are awake.
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Some of our patients will also need to undertake specific exercises as part of their recovery at home.
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These will be discussed with you by the team looking after you or at the post-operative outpatient review, and once you have been discharged.
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Thank you for watching.
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You can access a video demonstrating the breathing exercises, by using the following link or scanning the QR code displayed on the screen.
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For more information on our service, please visit the REACT-- page on the CUH website or drop into the Cancer Support Service.
