Keep a Member Training Safely Through Cancer Treatment
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Key Takeaways
- Start With a Private Conversation Ask about their treatment plan, what they want from the gym, and who's allowed to know before you change anything.
- Know When to Refer Out A lump removed with no further treatment can be handled like an injury return once they're cleared. Chemo, radiation, or major surgery means bringing in a cancer rehab specialist right away.
- Adjust Quietly Use RPE instead of percentages, keep them at the same level as the class, and brief your coaches so the member never feels singled out.
- Change One Question Swap "How are you feeling?" for "How was your week?" so they don't have to talk about the diagnosis every time they walk in.
About this Resource
Yani Fish has spent nearly a decade as a cancer and exercise rehabilitation specialist, and she's the Head of Exercise Oncology at Compete for a Cure. At her own CrossFit gym, she's who the coaches turn to when a member shares a diagnosis, including members training through active treatment.
We hosted a webinar with her in October 2026 on supporting members through cancer, and pulled her process straight out of it. Most gym owners want to help. What they're missing is a plan for the first conversation and a clear line for when to bring in a specialist.
Inside: the questions to ask in that private conversation, a simple guide for when to refer out, the coaching and team changes that keep a member safe without singling them out, and the one question to stop asking. It's the order Yani follows, not a generic wellness template.
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