Developing support to stay active during chemotherapy

What’s the project about?

Being diagnosed with breast cancer and preparing for chemotherapy can be a challenging time. Staying physically active may help people maintain their strength, fitness and quality of life during treatment, but finding suitable and practical advice can sometimes be difficult.

Researchers are developing ACTIVATE-NB, an online resource designed to support people with breast cancer who are receiving chemotherapy before surgery. The resource may include personalised exercise programmes, exercise videos and animations, practical guidance on physical activity, and ways to track activity and record how people are feeling.

Before developing the resource further, they want to hear directly from people affected by breast cancer about what they would find helpful, what might make the resource easier to use, and what could make it difficult to use during treatment. This will help shape the resource to make sure it reflects people's needs, preferences and experiences.

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Dr Ben Hood

Job title: Cancer Research Nurse Consultant

Organisation: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Email address: ben.hood@nhs.net

Who can take part?

You can take part if you've had a personal diagnosis of breast cancer and have had chemotherapy. This includes people who

• Have completed treatment for primary breast cancer

• Are undergoing treatment for primary breast cancer

• Are living with metastatic breast cancer

You do not need to be physically active or have experience of using exercise programmes or digital health resources.

Why do you want me to be involved?

By sharing your views, you can help the researchers develop a resource that is practical, understandable and relevant to people going through breast cancer treatment, as well as potentially helping others in the future.

Your feedback could help them decide what information to include, how exercise guidance and videos should be presented, what features would be useful, and how the resource could be made accessible to people with different needs, abilities and levels of confidence.

What will you ask me to do?

The researchers would like you to complete a short online questionnaire about your views on the proposed resources. The questionnaire is anonymous and should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

It asks about:

• The types of information and support you would find helpful

• Your preferences for exercise videos and guidance

• Features that might make the resource easier or more difficult to use

How do I get involved?

To take part, please complete the questionnaire.

If you have any questions, or would like to complete the questionnaire in a different way, please contact Dr Ben Hood at ben.hood@nhs.net.

When’s the deadline?

23 November 2026