9 min
When most people hear the word “cancer,” fitness is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Doctor appointments. Treatment plans. Surgery. Chemotherapy. Radiation. Those are the things most people think about.
But increasingly, research is showing that strength training and cardiovascular exercise before, during, and after cancer treatment can play an important role in helping people maintain their quality of life, tolerate treatment, preserve strength, and support recovery.
That’s why we’re launching Rise & Thrive, a Small Group Training program designed to support individuals with cancer from diagnosis through survivorship.
The Inspiration Behind This Program
The inspiration for this program began with one of our own coaches, Joanne. But before Joanne was a coach, she was a member.
A longtime member of our community, Joanne experienced firsthand how powerful fitness could be during her own breast cancer journey. When she retired, she decided to begin a second career as a coach with a very specific mission: to share the tool that had been so helpful to her with others facing similar challenges.
As Joanne explains:
“During my own treatment, exercise became a lifeline. Movement helped me stay grounded, maintain strength, and ultimately thrive through treatment and beyond. It gave me a sense of control.”
Anyone who has faced a cancer diagnosis knows how quickly life can feel overwhelming. Appointments, decisions, treatments, uncertainty—so much suddenly feels out of your control.
For Joanne, movement became an anchor. Today, that experience drives her coaching philosophy.
“I coach because no one should have to navigate this journey alone. I’m committed to helping patients rebuild confidence, reconnect with their bodies, and discover their capacity for resilience. My goal is to support not just physical recovery, but emotional strength and a renewed sense of possibility, all within a community that understands and uplifts one another.”
How This Program Came to Life
As the owner of Beacon Community Fitness and Yarmouth Community Fitness, one of the things I love most about this work is the opportunity to help amazing people turn their passions into something that can impact others.
Years ago, Joanne made an offhand comment to me. She said that when she retired, she’d love to learn how to coach so she could help others the way fitness had helped her.
It was a simple comment, but I filed it away.
Fast forward to her retirement.
I invited Joanne out for a coffee walk to celebrate. What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into something much bigger. By the end of that walk, we had mapped out the beginnings of a program that could support people through one of the most challenging experiences of their lives—from diagnosis through survivorship.
And honestly, supporting Joanne in bringing this vision to life was a complete no-brainer. You see, Beacon changed my life years ago.
The opportunity to amplify that impact by helping launch Joanne as a coach and creating a program that spreads more fitness, connection, and support throughout our community is exactly why these gyms exist.
Our vision has never been simply to help people exercise.
When Joanne shared her vision, I immediately knew it aligned with everything we’re trying to build. Rise & Thrive isn’t just another program. It’s a reflection of who we are and what we believe: that fitness can be a powerful tool for healing, resilience, connection, and hope.
And perhaps the best part is that this program wasn’t created in a boardroom or pulled from a business plan. It grew out of the lived experiences of people in our community.
Sarah’s Story: Strength Before, During, and After Treatment
One of our longtime members, Sarah, experienced this firsthand. At age 43, Sarah was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer after her very first mammogram. Like many people, she was shocked.
“When I first read the word ‘carcinoma’ in the test result, I thought, doesn’t that mean cancer? Why would I have cancer? This is the healthiest I’ve ever felt!”
At the time of her diagnosis, Sarah had been training with us for three years. She laughs when she talks about the transformation from someone who felt completely lost in the gym to someone who could walk into class and think:
“Oh cool, we’re going to bench press today!”
And actually mean it. More importantly, she was stronger than she had ever been.
“I can safely say that when I was diagnosed with cancer, I was the strongest I’ve ever been.”
Sarah continued attending classes until the day before her surgery. In fact, she intentionally scheduled a workout the day before her bilateral mastectomy because she knew exactly how she wanted to walk into that next chapter.
“Exercising with my crew that pre-surgery day felt like money in the bank, making me feel as calm and strong as possible heading into the great unknown of recovery.”
A few weeks later, Sarah found herself in the hospital recovering and dealing with back spasms. An occupational therapist came into her room to teach her gentler ways to get out of bed. The therapist asked her to demonstrate.
Sarah hopped into bed. The therapist looked surprised and said:
“We’re not used to working with people who have so much lower body strength!”
Sarah’s reaction?
“My upper half was out of commission due to healing from surgery, but my legs were the legs of someone who had been exercising at Beacon for three years.”
Strong. More Than a Workout. One of the things that stands out most in Sarah’s story isn’t the workouts themselves. It’s the support. Early in her treatment, Sarah shared her diagnosis with one of our coaches.
His response wasn’t about exercise. It was: “Would it be helpful if I told the other coaches, to take that off your plate?”
Sarah hadn’t even thought of that. “Yes, it would.”
That simple act meant she didn’t have to repeatedly explain her diagnosis or relive the emotions that came with it every time she walked into the gym. As Sarah puts it: “Beacon has held me and supported me throughout my cancer journey. I don’t just trust these fitness professionals for their expertise, which I do, but I genuinely like them and trust and respect them as people.”
Sometimes support isn’t complicated.
Sometimes it’s simply having people around you who understand what you’re carrying.
The Science Is Clear. The Roadmap Isn’t.
The science is increasingly clear: movement matters.
Recent research continues to strengthen the connection between exercise and improved outcomes before, during, and after cancer treatment. Exercise has been shown to help improve quality of life, maintain physical function, reduce treatment-related side effects, preserve strength, and support recovery.
That’s great news. The less great news?
Most people aren’t handed a roadmap for how to safely exercise while juggling appointments, treatments, side effects, recovery, work, family, and everything else life keeps throwing at them.
A cancer diagnosis already comes with enough decisions.
Figuring out how to exercise safely shouldn’t have to be one more burden.
That’s where coaching matters.
Why We Created Rise & Thrive
Rise & Thrive is designed to remove the burden of figuring it all out yourself. Participants will work with coaches who understand that every cancer journey is different.
Some days will be stronger days. Some days will be harder days. Our job is to meet people where they are.
Workouts can be modified based on treatment schedules, recovery timelines, energy levels, physical limitations, and how someone is feeling on a particular day.
Whether someone is newly diagnosed, actively undergoing treatment, recovering from surgery, or years into survivorship, we can adapt training to fit their current needs.
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is helping people continue to move safely and confidently through every stage of their journey.
The Power of Community
Cancer can be incredibly isolating.
At Beacon & Yarmouth Community Fitness, we believe that a cancer diagnosis should never mean isolating yourself from community or decreasing your quality of life.
While large fitness environments may not always feel appropriate during treatment, our small-group model allows participants to receive individualized coaching while still benefiting from connection and encouragement.
Our facility provides plenty of space for participants to spread out comfortably, and our coaches are always happy to wear masks when requested.
We want people to feel safe. We want people to feel supported. And perhaps most importantly, we want people to feel like they still belong. Because they do.
More Than Exercise
Success in this program won’t be measured by how much weight someone lifts. Success might mean having the energy to enjoy dinner with your family after treatment.
Sarah trained consistently throughout chemotherapy and radiation. Looking back, she’s clear about what made the difference.
“Every single time I exercised during those periods, I was glad I had, and it only made me feel better long-term.”
And perhaps her most powerful reflection:
“The number one reason I’m doing as well as I’m doing these days is because I was exercising when I was diagnosed and kept exercising throughout my cancer treatment.”
No One Should Have to Navigate This Alone
Cancer changes many things.
As Joanne puts it:
“My mission is to bring that same sense of empowerment to others. I want people to know they’re capable of more than they think, even during some of the hardest moments of their lives.”
That’s why we’re launching Rise & Thrive.
Not simply to help people exercise. But to help them maintain strength, confidence, connection, and quality of life throughout one of life’s most challenging journeys.
Interested in Learning More About Rise & Thrive?
This fall, we’ll be hosting a free educational workshop for individuals currently navigating cancer treatment, cancer survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers who want to learn more about the role exercise can play before, during, and after treatment.
We’ll share the latest research, discuss common concerns, and explain how Rise & Thrive is designed to provide safe, supportive, and individualized coaching throughout the cancer journey.
Don’t want to wait until fall?
We’re currently accepting participants for a limited Rise & Thrive pre-launch group this summer.
If you or someone you love is interested in learning more, schedule a FREE consultation with one of our coaches. We’ll take the time to learn about your unique situation, answer your questions, and help determine whether Rise & Thrive is the right fit for you. Because no one should have to figure this out alone.
Chat with a coach to discover how our programs can fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals. Let’s get you started on your fitness journey today!
