The unseen impact of losing mobility after an advanced cancer diagnosis

Mobility loss can affect far more than someone’s ability to walk or move around.

For people living with advanced cancer, changes in mobility can shape almost every part of daily life. It can affect independence, relationships, confidence, identity and the ability to stay connected to the people and things that matter most.

A new research study, supported by our Breast Cancer Voices, has explored these experiences in depth. The findings show why mobility loss needs to be recognised as more than a physical symptom. It’s a deeply personal experience that can affect people emotionally, socially and practically.

The study looked at how people with advanced cancer, and those who care for them, experience and adapt to mobility loss over time.

The researchers spoke to 10 people living with advanced cancer, including 4 people with breast cancer, and 2 carers. Each person took part in 2 interviews, giving the researchers a chance to understand how their experiences changed as their mobility changed.

The study found that losing mobility could have a huge impact on how people saw themselves. For some people, walking or moving independently had been closely tied to their sense of self. When this changed, it could feel like a loss of identity, as well as a loss of ability.

People described feeling disconnected from the person they used to be. Some talked about missing everyday activities that had once felt simple, like going for a walk, leaving the house, shopping or spending time with friends.

These changes could make people’s worlds feel smaller. Social plans became harder. Daily routines became more complicated. Family dynamics changed. And people could feel isolated, bored or left behind.

This shows how mobility loss doesn’t only affect one person. It can affect whole families.

The study also showed how people found ways to adjust. Some people focused on what they could still do, rather than only on what had changed. Others adapted their routines, planned activities more carefully, or used mobility devices to help them stay as independent as possible.

But this process wasn’t always easy. For some, using a walking stick, frame, wheelchair or scooter felt emotionally difficult. Mobility devices could be seen as a visible sign that things had changed. Some people worried about how others would see them, or felt that using equipment meant giving in.

Over time, participants came to see these devices differently. Rather than a symbol of decline, they became a way to stay safe, keep some independence and continue taking part in life.

This is an important reminder that practical support needs to be offered with sensitivity. People may need time, reassurance and understanding as they adjust.

One of the clearest findings was that mobility loss was often overlooked in care.

Participants said healthcare professionals asked about symptoms like pain, appetite or fatigue, but not always about walking or getting around. Some people only received support after their mobility had already become much worse.

The researchers suggest that mobility should be discussed earlier and more routinely in advanced cancer care. Asking simple questions about walking, getting around the home, leaving the house or managing daily tasks could help identify when someone needs support.

At Breast Cancer Now, our goal is that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer not only lives, but lives well.

Research like this helps show that good care isn’t only about treating the cancer. It’s also about understanding how cancer affects someone’s everyday life, relationships, independence and wellbeing.

By listening to people’s experiences, researchers can better understand what support is missing and what needs to change.

The findings suggest that mobility loss should be recognised as a key part of advanced cancer care. It should be taken seriously, discussed openly and supported early.

And by involving our Breast Cancer Voices and hearing directly from the people affected by breast cancer, research can better reflect the realities of life with the disease.