Oncological prehabilitation: a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer patients
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22591/magyurol.2026.1.szonyim.2
Authors:
Szőnyi Márta Júlia dr.
Dél-pesti Centrumkórház, Országos Hematológiai és Infektológiai Intézet, Onkológiai Osztály, Rehabilitációs Részleg, Budapest
Summary
In oncology care, clinical decision-making has traditionally focused on tumor staging and treatment efficacy. However, increasing evidence suggests that a patient’s baseline functional and metabolic status is an independent prognostic factor for outcomes. This review examines the philosophy and practical implementation of oncological prehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of proactive preparation over reactive rehabilitation. Multimodal prehabilitation (combining structured physical training, targeted nutritional support, and psychological counseling) exerts its effects at the molecular level by stimulating anabolic processes and modulating the inflammatory stress response. Literature data confirm that a short, 4–6-week intervention conducted within the window between diagnosis and definitive treatment can significantly enhance patients’ functional reserves, thereby reducing the risk of postoperative complications and shortening the length of hospital stay. In addition to summarizing evidence-based recommendations, the paper briefly describes key elements of the prehabilitation practice applied in the author’s institution. Special emphasis is placed on multidisciplinary collaboration, which allows interventions to be tailored to individual risk profiles and therapeutic plans. Integrating prehabilitation into the oncological patient pathway represents a patient-centered approach that, by targeted enhancement of functional reserves, supports treatment feasibility, improves therapeutic tolerance, and contributes to preserving quality of life throughout the entire continuum of cancer care.