Roberta Whiting, an 80-year-old Nova Scotian, has regained her mobility and joy for baking after completing a 12-week cancer rehabilitation exercise program at Halifax’s QEII hospital.
Diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, Whiting once relied on a wheelchair and struggled with fatigue. Her doctor referred her to the Activating Cancer Communities through Exercise Strategy for Survivors (ACCESS) program, run by Dalhousie University.
Since starting ACCESS in December, she’s doubled her weightlifting capacity-from five to ten pounds-and no longer needs a wheelchair. She’s even returned to baking bread, tea biscuits, and lemon pie, activities she thought were behind her.
Aidan Nolan, the program’s exercise physiologist, praises her dedication: “She’s always pushing herself… doing warmups before class and exercising at home.” His goal is to equip patients with the confidence to continue independently.
Co-directed by Dr. Scott Grandy and Dr. Melanie Keats, ACCESS has served over 500 participants since 2018. It partners with the Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program to integrate physical activity into standard cancer care-improving not just survivability but mental health and patient empowerment.
“There’s hope in doing everything you can to care for yourself,” says Keats.
Whiting, now finishing her 12 weeks, urges others to join: “It’s good for no matter what age you are.”
