Cancer and Exercise

Free programs and resources for people in Alberta

There is strong evidence that exercise before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis can help manage and improve your quality of life.

Regular exercise can help to:

• reduce cancer-related fatigue and improve your energy levels
• reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
• improve your ability to do daily activities
• improve your ability to tolerate treatment
• manage lymphedema (swelling in the body because of the build up of lymph fluid)

Starting and keeping up with exercise can be tough, but there are many options for support in Alberta. The exercise education, programs, and studies below are free, available across Alberta, and accept adults with all cancer types and stages. Many are for both people currently receiving cancer treatment and those who have completed treatment.

Talk to your healthcare team before starting any new exercise programs.

Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) Program

• A free community-based exercise program in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, and Lethbridge.

Exercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well (EXCEL)

• A free online exercise program for people living in rural or remote areas.

Exercise for Your Life: Physical Activity for Cancer Patients and Survivors

• A free virtual class, hosted on Zoom, which provides information about how exercise helps your body during treatment, and how to start or improve an exercise program. No physical activity is performed during the class.

Exercises for People with Cancer: 3-Minute Movement Videos

• A collection of 3-minute videos of simple exercises that can be done sitting in a chair.

Thrive Health

• A free library of online resources related to cancer and exercise, including the Thriving With Exercise manual.

Wellspring Cancer Support

• Free online and in-person strength and mobility programs. To find classes, select Exercise & Movement in the Category drop-down menu.

Bone Metastases and Exercise (BME) Hub

• Free online resources on exercise recommendations for people with cancer who have bone metastases.

If you have questions about cancer and exercise, talk to your cancer care provider about your specific situation, additional resources, and a possible referral to Cancer Care Alberta's Rehabilitation Oncology program. This program helps people with cancer keep and restore their physical, functional, and emotional well-being. Cancer rehabilitation is available before, during, and after cancer treatment.

To see this information online and learn more, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca/health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=custom.ab_cancer_exercise_programs_inst.

For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.

Current as of: April 07, 2026

Author: Cancer Care Alberta

This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information.