Meet the Team
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About the BfitBwell Exercise Program
BfitBwell is a 3-month long individualized exercise program for individuals diagnosed with cancer who are currently going through treatment at the University of Colorado Cancer Center or no more than post 6 months treatment. An extensive pre- and post-assessment is conducted providing insight into diet and nutrition, sleep, stress, fatigue and depression, quality of life, self-efficacy, muscular strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. Participants will be working one-on-one and in semi-private settings completing an exercise program designed by a Cancer Exercise Specialist.
All training sessions are individualized and tailored to the specific needs of the individual. Participants will have access to the fitness center Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm, and full access Saturday and Sunday, 7am-5pm.
Vision
To transform the lives of cancer survivors by providing expert evaluation, excellent patient care, and cancer-specific exercise training. We are research leaders impacting Colorado through collaboration with the University of Colorado Cancer Center, UCHealth system, and their respective care teams.
Specific Aim
Our goal is to provide evidence-based, individualized, and supervised prescriptive exercise interventions to cancer patients and to promote increased functional capacity and quality of life for individuals with cancer during and following treatment.
We Are Still Open and Enrolling New Patients!
Participant Eligibility:
- Currently undergoing treatment OR no more than 6 months post-treatment. (Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, etc)
In-Person Program Details:
Cost for the patient:
$177.00 Total (Can be broken down to $59.00 per month for the 3 months)
3 months in length
- We start all new patients on month start. For example, we enroll for a September start, October start, November start, etc.
What the in-person program includes:
- In-depth Pre and Post assessment including various measures of physical fitness and physical function, as well as surveys to assess fatigue, depression, quality of life, stress, sleep, nutrition/diet, and self-efficacy. Typically this assessment, and membership set up is done within the month prior to your start date.
- Individualized training sessions designed by a Cancer Exercise Specialist based on information from your initial assessment, medical history, medications, and physician clearance.
- Two training sessions per week (one in-person and one virtual)
- Access to the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center
Virtual Program Details:
Cost for the patient:
$117.00 Total (Can be broken down to $39.00 per month for the 3 months)
3 months in length
- We start all new patients on month start. For example, we enroll for a September start, October start, November start, etc.
What the virtual program includes:
- 2 Assessments with BfitBwell team members via Zoom or in-person. (initial and post)
- 2 Virtual training sessions via Zoom. (One initial and one at the halfway point of your program)
- 2 TrueCoach (an online personal training app) workouts per week
Learn more about the TrueCoach app
The virtual program also includes:
- Library of online resources, including
- Self-massage videos
- Healthy recipe library and virtual cooking demonstrations
- One club visit per month
- Utilize to exercise on your own
- Or, use it to work out with your trainer in person
- Receive member rates on services like massage
We know that any given day, things may change, based on how you feel, energy level, etc. so we are able and often adapt as necessary. Incorporating exercise into your routine is often new and can awaken new muscles, so it is our job to find a balance of what is appropriate for you based on how you are feeling and reacting to exercise.
Exercise in cancer patients has been proven to:
- Decrease depression
- Reduce fatigue
- Increase muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance
- Create and promote healthy lifestyle choices
- Improve overall quality of life
Exercise is recommended and beneficial to almost every person and population. People young and old, well and ill, can often safely participate in exercise and experience improvements in physical fitness, physical function, and overall quality of life. Cancer survivors are no exception.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has issued exercise recommendations for cancer survivors. The recommendations state that cancer survivors should participate in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise 3 times per week and 30-minute strength training sessions 2-3 times per week. It has been shown that it is safe for cancer survivors to participate in exercise, both during and after treatment. Previous research has shown that cancer survivors participating in exercise programs experience improvements in physical fitness, physical function, fatigue, and quality of life. In addition to these benefits, there is also evidence that increased physical activity and exercise may lead to decreased risks of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.
The safety and benefits of exercise can vary based on cancer diagnosis, stage, or treatment, so it is important to speak with your doctor prior to starting an exercise program. Here at the BfitBwell Program, we incorporate the latest recommendations to make sure your exercise program is safe and appropriate for you during each visit.
Here at the BfitBwell Program, we are working to perform research that will help us improve the exercise programs that we, and others, provide to cancer survivors. Below are our active studies. Please inquire about potential research opportunities if you are interested when you start the program.
Current Studies
- Creation of a Comprehensive Database of Cancer Survivors Participating in an Exercise Program (COMIRB #16-0692, PI: Purcell)
Published Studies
Participant Resources
Support BfitBwell
BfitBwell Location
Contact Us
Email: AHWC.BfitBwell@ucdenver.edu
Phone: 303-724-9202