Cancer Survivors Find Strength in Community at Believe In You

The Power of Community#

Believe In You, a wellness program for patients with cancer and cancer survivors, has become an integral part of the annual Dolphins Cancer Challenge, which supports cancer research and patient care at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2022, the program was introduced by Tracy Crane, PhD, as an 18-week training program, but it has since evolved into a year-round initiative promoting healthy, attainable fitness goals.

Key Benefits#

• Promotes healthy, attainable fitness goals year-round
• Encourages community and teamwork
• Provides ongoing support during the off-season
• Offers a range of virtual classes and in-person training sessions
• Focuses on the transformative power of community and exercise

A Community of Support#

Believe In You has grown from a small group of participants to a large program with training sites in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, led by a team of five trainers and 10 program assistants. The program is open to patients with cancer and cancer survivors in South Florida, and participants receive complimentary Saturday outdoor workouts and virtual weekday classes.

Training Season and Off-Season#

• Training season: Complimentary Saturday outdoor workouts and virtual weekday classes
• Off-season: Monthly in-person training sessions and online classes

The Role of Community in Cancer Survivorship#

Rossi said she has witnessed the transformative power of community numerous times while overseeing Believe In You. “We have so many stories about patients coming in and saying, ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to do it, but I’ll just try it and see how it feels,’ and then they form these connections and encourage and motivate each other,” she said. The program also provides a weekly newsletter dedicated to health and fitness education, combats misinformation about exercise and cancer, and hosts monthly workshops on topics such as nutrition, exercise, and behavior change.

The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Survivorship#

Exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, improve quality of life, and reduce long-term symptoms in cancer survivors. “Exercise is not just about physical health; it’s also about mental health,” Rossi said. “Exercise improves mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, but also fatigue, which might seem counterintuitive.”
Rossi emphasizes that fulfilling weekly fitness recommendations does not require “extreme” effort, and can instead be a fun, social activity. “You don’t have to train for a marathon or anything too intense to meet the 150-minute weekly recommendation,” she said. “You can come to a park once a week with friends, do some great exercise, visit with one another and then also do something during the week, and before you know it you are at the goal of 150 minutes. Every little bit adds up.”

Conclusion#

Believe In You is a testament to the power of community and exercise in cancer survivorship, and its year-round program has made a significant impact on the lives of cancer survivors in South Florida. By providing a supportive community, promoting healthy fitness goals, and educating patients on the benefits of exercise, Believe In You has demonstrated that cancer survivors can lead healthy, active lives. Key Takeaways:
• Believe In You is a wellness program for cancer patients and survivors that aims to promote healthy fitness goals and community support. • The program offers a range of virtual classes and in-person training sessions, and is open to patients with cancer and cancer survivors in South Florida. • The program emphasizes the importance of community and teamwork in cancer survivorship, and provides ongoing support during the off-season. • Exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, improve quality of life, and reduce long-term symptoms in cancer survivors. Reference:
Believe In You: Cancer survivors train for the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. https://news.med.miami.edu/cancer-survivors-train-for-the-dolphins-cancer-challenge. Published Feb. 17, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025.