Information for Participants

  • You can join a course at any stage after a diagnosis as long as it is medically appropriate for you – so you may be newly diagnosed, in treatment, recovering from treatment, living with cancer, or some way past your diagnosis. If you feel that doing Into the Blue could help you with any impact of your cancer or you just want support with regaining your confidence in the water, we are for you!

  • Into the Blue is designed to be a safe, accessible, inclusive program. We work to medical guidance designed by Dr Amy Roy, consultant oncologist at Plymouth NHS Trust. Where needed we additionally ask you to gain written permission from a healthcare professional who knows you. 

    If you feel unwell for any reason before a session we suggest you do not come in the water that week.

    We work to detailed water safety plans for each location and undertake a risk assessment for each session or event before it takes place. 

    Our locations are chosen for their accessibility, facilities and water cleanliness. We would never enter the water if there was evidence of sewage.

    Participants are supported in the water by their coach, a lifeguard with rescue equipment and a volunteer. 

  • We ask you to wait three months after surgery before you join our course ensures that not only skin level wounds have healed well so you are not at risk of infection, but that deeper healing has taken place and there is no risk that being in the water could disrupt that process.

  • You may swim during radiotherapy treatment as long as the skin remains intact (has not started to breakdown/split).

  • We have had a significant proportion of participants who take part while on SACT. Where someone is receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy, we ask they check with one of their oncology team (cancer nurse or consultant) that it is appropriate for them to take part. We request an email confirming they are happy for you to participate.

  • Yes, you can participate while on hormone therapy for cancer.

  • If you are suffering from neuropathy in your hands and/or feet after cancer treatment we encourage you to wear 5mm neoprene gloves and boots to protect them from the impact of the cold. Our swimmers report that this ensures they do not suffer any worsening effects and it can in fact improve their symptoms. 

  • We like you to wear brightly coloured headwear in the water to keep your head warm and help you be visible to the team. We suggest for people with no, very little or fragile hair that a neoprene hat is more suitable than a silicon one. Talk to your coach about what might be best or easiest for you.

  • We ask you to wear a swimming costume with neoprene boots and gloves but not a wetsuit so that you get the benefits of cold water. But we understand that this sometimes isn’t comfortable for all sorts of reasons – again, you can discus this with your coach about how to dress for cold water that is right for you.