Imagine the terror of a cancer diagnosis, where every waiting room feels like an eternity, stripping away your sense of control. But what if there was a way to reclaim that power before treatment even begins? That's the inspiring journey of one woman who's turning her battle into a beacon for others. Jodie Collins, a survivor of advanced bowel cancer diagnosed in 2020 at just 44 years old, is spearheading the creation of a tailored prehabilitation program designed to boost quality of life and enhance recovery for fellow patients. For beginners wondering what prehabilitation entails, think of it as proactive preparation – much like training for a marathon before the race starts. It involves building physical and mental strength through exercise, nutrition, and emotional support to help patients face surgery and treatments with greater resilience.
Jodie shared how the prolonged waits for diagnoses and treatments can plunge patients into a vortex of anxiety and helplessness. 'When cancer hits, it's utterly frightening, and everything feels out of your hands – you're just waiting for tests, specialists, and the unknown,' she explained. 'But aspects like physical activity and diet? Those are areas where you can seize back some agency.' Her expertise shines through: holding a master's degree in sport and exercise science focused on boosting muscle mass in elderly individuals at risk of frailty, plus a history in community education. She's also the deputy chair of the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group advisory panel, dedicated to making cancer research more accessible and patient-centered. One glaring gap she noticed during her ordeal was the lack of comprehensive prehab services in New Zealand (Aotearoa), not just in research but in practical support.
But here's where it gets controversial – is prehabilitation something that should be universally available, or do we risk overburdening an already stretched healthcare system? Backed by a scholarship from the Cancer Society, Jodie will embark on her PhD at Auckland University next year. Her vision is to collaborate intimately with patients, their families (whānau), and healthcare providers to craft a program that adapts to individual needs, incorporating fitness routines, balanced eating habits, and mental health strategies. This all-encompassing approach aims to empower people, fostering strength and smoother recoveries from operations and therapies. 'It's like offering a full-circle support system that restores hope and control, preparing them for the challenges ahead,' Jodie described.
Her personal link to this work predates her diagnosis, rooted in family tragedy. Her father and uncle both battled colorectal cancer – her uncle, in his 30s, beat it, but her father, in his 70s, succumbed just eight months later. That history prompted her to seek medical advice upon noticing vague symptoms, leading to a colonoscopy that revealed a significant tumor in her bowel, with spread to lymph nodes and later, two instances in a lung requiring surgery. 'My most recent scan came back clear – the first in five years – what a thrill!' she exclaimed. This victory has freed her mind to dive into ambitious research. 'Now I can ponder, "What's next?" Before, I hesitated to commit to projects fearing I might not finish them. It sounds grim, but that was my reality,' she admitted.
Living in Taupiri, a rural spot in Waikato, Jodie has long been passionate about underserved groups, including those in remote areas. 'I aim to create something practical for people right where they live,' she said. And this is the part most people miss – how rural access to such programs could bridge huge inequities in cancer care.
Shifting gears, the Cancer Society is pouring over $1 million into groundbreaking research through their 2025 grants, part of a decade-long investment exceeding $50 million via their National Research Grants Programme. This includes postdoctoral fellowships, project grants, and Jodie's PhD funding. Christelle Jolly, Director of Research and Innovation at the Cancer Society, emphasized its role in nurturing the cancer research talent pool. 'Our postdoctoral support has catapulted careers and driven breakthroughs across disciplines, and we're optimistic this latest round will sustain that progress.'
The recipients are making waves: Dr. Judy Ann Cocadiz from the University of Otago is developing a compact device to snag circulating DNA fragments in blood for early cancer detection. Meanwhile, Dr. Yue Wang at the University of Auckland is exploring if inhibiting growth hormones could supercharge melanoma treatments. Associate Professor Stephen Jamieson, a cancer pharmacologist at the University of Auckland, secured a grant to innovate therapies for melanomas driven by the NRAS gene mutation, which affects up to 20% of cases. Lastly, Dr. Andrea Teng and her team at the University of Otago in Wellington will assess the effectiveness of screen-and-treat methods for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium tied to 90% of stomach cancers – imagine a simple test and cure preventing a deadly disease before it starts.
What do you think about prioritizing prehabilitation in cancer care – should it be standard, or might it divert resources from other needs? And is there a controversial angle here, like whether personal stories should influence research funding? Share your views in the comments below; we'd love to hear differing opinions!
