Active Together programme boosts survival by 10%

A pioneering exercise, nutrition and wellbeing programme funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research has been found to significantly improve the likelihood of survival for people with cancer, according to a new report released today by the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Hallam University.

Developed by the AWRC and delivered in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Active Together programme has shown an overall 10% improvement in survival for people with bowel, lung and upper gastrointestinal cancers. Researchers recorded a one-year survival rate of 95% for patients taking part in the programme, compared to 85% for patients who did not. In addition, 97% of patients reported improvements in their health and wellbeing, feeling more empowered and in control of their health.

The report also found that the programme saved the NHS £366.36 per patient by reducing the amount of time they needed to spend recovering in hospital after surgery, with upper gastrointestinal patients who participated in Active Together spending half a day less in critical care than those who didn't take part in the programme. It is estimated that providing exercise, nutritional advice and psychological support to all people diagnosed with cancer before, during, and after treatment could save the NHS more than £100 million over five years if introduced nationally.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is in the process of expanding Active Together to thousands more patients across Yorkshire, bringing this vital cancer care service closer to where people live. The charity’s long-term vision is for everyone with a cancer diagnosis in Yorkshire to be able to benefit from research-backed exercise. The Active Together programme at the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre in Harrogate is being funded for the first three years by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), an international philanthropic organisation that aims to create transformative change through the dedication of grants to partners across the world. The Active Together programme is supported through SNF’s Global Health Initiative (GHI), which aims to improve access to quality health care for all.

Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “The results of the Active Together programme in Sheffield demonstrate how innovative approaches to cancer care can transform lives across our region. By helping people with cancer prepare for and recover from their cancer treatment, Active Together enables people to tolerate greater doses of treatment, access treatments previously unavailable to them and recover better after operations."

“That's why Yorkshire Cancer Research is committed to expanding the programme. In addition to offering Active Together in Sheffield, Harrogate and other areas of South and West Yorkshire, the charity wants everyone in Yorkshire to have access to this pioneering service if they need it - no matter who they are or where they live.”

Karen Nile, 50, from Sheffield, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March 2023. Up to that point she led a busy life, working full time and filling her free time with woodland walks, visits to art galleries and museums, and regular walks along the beaches of North Wales.

Within days of her diagnosis, she was referred to Active Together to prepare for major surgery scheduled for two months later. Karen received comprehensive support tailored specifically to her lifestyle and work commitments.

Karen’s recovery programme was tailored to her and completely personalised. When she told her physiotherapist she was unlikely to go to the gym, she was instead provided with an exercise plan around her love of woodland walking, combining cardio with gentler activity in an environment where she felt comfortable.

During six months of chemotherapy, the Active Together team maintained regular contact through phone calls, face-to-face assessments, and practical support, as well as monitoring her mental wellbeing and referring her for talking therapy when she needed it.

Karen added: "What makes this programme so special is how it creates a complete support network - physical, nutritional, and emotional. When you've had such massive surgery, you're thinking on an hour-by-hour basis. Having a team that truly sees you as an individual and understands exactly where you are in your recovery journey is invaluable.

“The collaboration between the NHS, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Sheffield Hallam University is brilliant - it feels like something you'd have to pay for privately in other countries. I want to do everything I can to raise awareness so others can benefit from this incredible programme."

The AWRC is Sheffield Hallam University's flagship research and innovation centre, bringing together academia, healthcare providers, industry partners, and local communities to transform lives through research and innovation in physical activity and human movement. Its innovative solutions integrate physical activity into personalised care pathways and promote equitable access to healthcare, focusing on improving health outcomes while supporting the long-term sustainability of the NHS.

Professor Robert Copeland continued: "Our model of collaborative research and innovation, working in partnership with the NHS, charities, and industry, is proving to be a powerful approach to improving outcomes for people with a cancer diagnosis in South Yorkshire and beyond. 

“The success of Active Together aligns perfectly with national priorities to transition care from hospitals to communities. We're confident that this approach has the potential to address the challenges highlighted in recent policy reviews, especially in improving outcomes for people with a cancer diagnosis.”