People in Fife diagnosed with cancer are set for additional support thanks to a specially-designed physical activity programme.

The unique programme is being made possible thanks to funding by leading cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, and will be delivered by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust in partnership with NHS Fife across the region.

Research shows that physical activity for people during cancer treatment can provide benefits to improved physical function, relief from fatigue, nausea and improve quality of life. Equally, for those living with cancer, physical activity helps support a return to a healthy and active lifestyle.

Macmillan has awarded the Trust a grant of £150,000 to support a three-year physical activity programme, which will see patients who are undergoing treatment, or who have completed treatment, eligible for a programme of physical activity classes. The classes will be delivered by the Trust's exercise professionals who will undergo additional training in order to support and advise cancer patients on the programme.

Macmillan has made a further £8,000 available to train 12 Trust staff members.

Helping people who have been diagnosed with cancer to move more is a key focus for Macmillan. The charity has carried out various pieces of research which has shown that being active during, and after treatment can not only maintain physical function and minimise the side effects of treatment, but also help prevent recurrence and dying from the disease for some cancers1.

The development of physical activity classes for people during and after cancer treatment follows similar partnership health and wellbeing programmes delivered by the Trust and NHS Fife to support those living with long-term conditions. Established programmes such as cardiac rehabilitation and Active Options 2, which supports patients with conditions including diabetes, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have seen people across Fife benefit from specially-designed physical activity programmes.

Jacquie Stringer, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust's health and physical activity manager, said: "We are very excited about the support from Macmillan – being able to provide people in Fife affected by cancer with a tailored physical activity programme has been an ambition of the Trust's for some time.

"Over the past two decades, there has been a rising trend in cancer incidence in Fife, primarily due to the increasing elderly population. Evidence suggests that physical activity is very important to the survival and recovery process for cancer patients, and thanks to our experience of delivering health and wellbeing programmes and qualified staff, we are confident the Trust can deliver real positive impacts'.

Elspeth Atkinson, director of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "Doctors used to advise people to rest as much as possible during and after cancer treatment, however, we now know that being active during and after treatment can maintain physical function, minimise the side effects of treatment and could help prevent recurrence. We know many people may feel nervous about building up their activity levels, particularly it it's for the first time after treatment, or, if they haven't been very active for a while, which is why Macmillan is working in partnership with organisations like Fife Sports and Leisure Trust to develop a new range of physical activity classes specifically targeted at people diagnosed with cancer."

Dr Brian Montgomery, NHS Fife medical director and board cancer lead, welcomed the initiative and the support from Macmillan which makes the physical activity programme possible. He commented: "The benefits of regular exercise in promoting health and recovery from illness and treatment are well recognised.  This initiative will help improve the quality of lives of people who are being treated for cancer and living with cancer."