When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, it is not only her medical schedule that changes. The way she sees herself changes, as does the way she believes others see her. The side effects of treatment often bring fatigue, loss of strength, fear, isolation, and a difficult label to carry: “I am a cancer patient.”
Research is increasingly showing, however, that some interventions can open another path. They do not replace surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy—they complement them. In doing so, they can transform something deeply human: a person’s identity.
A qualitative study involving 85 women with breast cancer who participated in group-based exercise programs run by the Chair of Physical Activity and Oncology at Universitat Jaume I illustrates this process. Through eleven focus groups, participants described specialized group-based exercise not merely as physical activity, but as a safe space, a meaningful routine, a support network, and a new way of seeing themselves.
The central finding is simple yet powerful: belonging to the group helps shift identity from that of a “person with cancer” to a more active, shared, and positive sense of self. Women no longer perceive themselves solely as patients; instead, they begin to see themselves as teammates, members of a group, and individuals capable of setting new goals. The body, so often experienced as fragile during treatment, becomes once again a source of confidence and possibility.
The key lies not only in exercising, but in exercising together. Group membership promotes adherence to exercise, motivation, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. Participants described developing friendships, mutual understanding, and everyday support. Within this environment, cancer does not disappear, but it no longer defines every aspect of their lives.
These findings invite us to rethink supportive cancer care. Prescribing supervised, accessible, and tailored exercise should not be regarded as a minor adjunct to treatment, but rather as a psychosocial intervention with substantial clinical value. In this process, the multidisciplinary oncology team plays a crucial role by supporting the transition from an illness-centered identity to one grounded in agency, belonging, and living well.
Sometimes, recovery begins when a patient stops walking alone and realizes she is part of a team.
Reference
Londoño-Martínez, M., Agut-Nieto, S., & Collado-Boira, E. J. (2026). From breast cancer patient to teammate: The role of exercise group identity in enhancing well-being. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 83, 103237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2026.103237
Social worker with a Master's degree in Gender, Society and Politics. She is a university lecturer and social researcher with expertise in gender studies, health, and qualitative research at the University of Antioquia, Colombia. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Local Development and International Cooperation at Universitat Jaume I.
Mónica's research focuses on the relationship between cancer, physical activity, social identity, and psychosocial well-being. Her recent academic work examines how group belonging and physical activity contribute to reshaping the experience of cancer from social, embodied, and community-based perspectives.