Brae Physio

20/08/2026

Cancer recovery can feel confusing, uncertain and overwhelming, especially when people are left wondering what is normal, what can improve, and where to get help.
No two recoveries are the same.
Cancer rehabilitation helps people understand what is happening in their body, manage ongoing side effects, rebuild confidence and take an active role in their recovery.
Because when people understand their recovery, everything changes.
Your recovery deserves support.

18/08/2026

Exercise can be powerful medicine after cancer, but people need the right support to access its benefits.
Only around 1 in 10 people with cancer are reaching the exercise levels shown to support recovery and long-term health.
Cancer rehabilitation helps people move safely, rebuild strength, manage treatment side effects and work towards the right dose of movement for their body. Because advice is not enough.

16/08/2026

Today marks the start of Cancer Awareness Week
Too many people finish cancer treatment and are left thinking fatigue, pain and weakness are just part of survival.
They’re not.
Cancer rehabilitation can help people rebuild strength, manage symptoms, move with confidence and return to the things that matter most.
This Cancer Rehab Awareness Week, help us make cancer rehabilitation a standard part of cancer care.
Your recovery deserves support.

12/08/2026

Scars tell stories of resilience — but some can cause pain or restricted movement. Our latest blog, "Understanding Scars," breaks down different scar types and how Scar Therapy can help restore comfort and function. Read more: https://wix.to/wAr48eO

Scars are a part of life. Whether they come from childhood adventures, surgeries, or accidents, these marks tell stories of resilience and healing. However, not all scars are created equal, and some can be a source of pain or discomfort. Scars are not just on the skin, they can go much deeper into t...

10/08/2026

Come and join us tomorrow. Whether you have cancer, have had cancer in the past or are supporting someone with cancer, all are welcome. Meet other people that "get it".

01/08/2026

PLEASE. Please sign this open letter. Any one of us could get cancer at any time, imagine if there was a drug that could give you extra time or even cure you, and you couldn't afford it. This is a reality for too many people.

Hundreds of life-changing medicines are out of reach for New Zealanders. They need your voice.

31/07/2026

Was fun to attend the Community Link welcoming day this week to share our local cancer rehab offering. Had some great chats with some lovely people!

26/07/2026

Issues with access to rural healthcare are regularly written about and reported on, but far less often in the context of cancer recovery and survivorship.

For many people affected by cancer, distance can be a major barrier to accessing the support they need to recover.

When someone is going through treatment, they may simply feel too unwell or exhausted to travel. The time, cost and distance involved in reaching support services can rule them out altogether.

At the Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation, improving access to care has long been a focus of our work.

Our Rural Scholarship Programme began in 2016 and has helped us grow a network of expert cancer rehabilitation physiotherapists in small towns and regions throughout New Zealand. Our online individual and group services also play an integral role in bringing recovery support closer to home, regardless of where someone lives.

Because while treatment is delivered in hospitals, **recovery happens in communities.**

This week, our founder and CEO, Lou James, was invited to speak at the Rural Women New Zealand Canterbury Regional Conference in Ashburton.

It was also an opportunity for Lou to reflect on her own rural upbringing and the strong sense of connection and community she experienced growing up on a farm, despite the physical distance between their little farm cottage and everyone else.

That sense of connection is central to cancer recovery too.

Cancer can be an incredibly isolating experience. People may lose confidence and trust in their bodies and become disconnected from the people, activities and parts of life that matter most to them.

We see the transformation that can happen when people feel seen, heard and understood, and are supported to reconnect with themselves, their lives and their communities.

Without the right recovery support, people can lose years of vitality, function and wellbeing. The impact extends beyond the individual to families, friends, workplaces and communities, with wider economic consequences when people are unable to return to work.

One of the biggest barriers remains awareness. Too many people simply do not know that cancer rehabilitation support exists.

If you know someone living with the effects of cancer who needs support with their recovery, please direct them to our website. Our Patient Navigator can help connect them with the right support.

https://www.cancerrehab.org.nz/

**Cancer doesn’t discriminate by postcode and recovery shouldn’t either.**

Canterbury Rural Women NZ Rural Women New Zealand

15/07/2026

YES! Everything they said! All patients should get this care as standard. It's a constant stressor for me that I could help people so much more if there was just more FUNDING!

Studies are highlighting the benefits of guided exercise to prevent recurrence and even death.

07/07/2026

Our new blog - find out more about what lymphoedema is and what can be done to manage it.

Lymphoedema is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the lymphatic system, which helps remove excess fluid and waste from tissues, becomes impaired. This leads to swelling, usually in the arms or legs, and can cause discomfort, pain, and mobility issues. Under...