Strength For Living Expands Access to Cancer Survivorship Care With Personalized Exercise and Nutrition Support Led by Exercise Oncology Pioneer Dr. Anna Schwartz
A pioneer of exercise oncology is bringing three decades of research out of the lab and into the lives of survivors, in person, online, and on their phones.
United States, 2nd Nov 2026 – Strength For Living™, a program operated by Coleman Health, LLC, announces the expansion of its personalized exercise and nutrition support services for individuals undergoing cancer treatment and those navigating life after treatment. Led by exercise oncology researcher Dr. Anna L. Schwartz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN, the program combines professionally guided exercise, individualized nutrition support, in-person classes, and nationwide online access.
The expansion brings together instructor-led services in Arizona, Florida, Washington, and New York, alongside remote programming and the Cancer Exercise app. The initiative reflects Strength For Living’s™ focus on making structured, individualized exercise and nutrition resources available through multiple delivery formats.
Building on Three Decades of Exercise Oncology Research
Strength For Living™ draws on Dr. Schwartz’s three decades of research, clinical practice, and contributions to exercise oncology, a field examining the role of physical activity during and after cancer treatment.
A researcher and nurse practitioner, Dr. Schwartz helped advance the development of exercise oncology guidelines and educational resources. In 2003, she proposed an American College of Sports Medicine roundtable addressing exercise and cancer. She subsequently co-chaired the 2010 consensus roundtable and contributed to the organization’s 2019 expert consensus statement concerning exercise guidelines for cancer survivors.
Her research career includes more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and seven books, including Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for Patients and Survivors and the co-authored undergraduate textbook Essentials of Exercise Oncology. She also developed the Schwartz Cancer Fatigue Scale, a research and clinical instrument used to assess fatigue in cancer populations.
Dr. Schwartz previously held the Charlotte Peck Lienemann Endowed Chair at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
“I spent my career proving that exercise helps people get through cancer. Then I watched patient after patient leave treatment with no one to guide them. Strength For Living™ is my answer to that gap,” Dr. Schwartz says.
A Changing National Framework for Exercise Oncology
The expansion comes as exercise oncology receives increasing attention within established cancer care standards.
In September 2026, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer approved Standard 4.9, Exercise Oncology Services, with implementation scheduled for January 1, 2028.
The standard requires accredited cancer programs to establish processes for assessing exercise needs during the initial course of treatment and referring patients to appropriate services. Depending on individual circumstances, these may include oncology rehabilitation, exercise oncology programs, or community-based exercise opportunities.
The development represents a shift toward more structured consideration of physical activity within cancer care. It also highlights the importance of accessible programs staffed by appropriately qualified professionals.
Strength For Living™ operates independently of the Commission on Cancer and offers cancer programs a ready referral option to help meet the exercise assessment and referral requirements of CoC Standard 4.9.
Personalized Exercise and Nutrition Across Multiple Formats
Strength For Living™ combines exercise instruction and nutrition guidance within a coordinated service model.
Nationally certified exercise professionals develop individualized programs based on participants’ reported physical abilities, treatment circumstances, activity histories, and personal goals. Registered dietitians provide nutrition guidance that considers individual dietary needs and relevant medical recommendations.
The program offers live, instructor-led classes in Arizona, Florida, Washington, and New York. Online classes provide an additional participation format for individuals outside these locations.
Exercise plans may incorporate mobility, resistance training, aerobic activity, balance, and other forms of movement, with modifications based on participants’ circumstances and guidance from their healthcare professionals.
Nutrition services complement the exercise component by providing individualized dietary education and planning.
“Cancer patients spend so much time in hospitals. When they come to us, I want them to feel like an athlete getting stronger, not a patient getting more treatment,” Dr. Schwartz says.
The program is intended to complement, rather than replace, medical treatment, rehabilitation, or advice from an individual’s oncology care team.
Extending Exercise Guidance Through Digital Technology
The Cancer Exercise app provides an additional digital component to Dr. Schwartz’s approach to exercise oncology.
Available for compatible mobile devices, the app offers exercise programming informed by published exercise oncology guidance. Its features allow exercise recommendations to be adjusted according to user-reported circumstances, including activity levels, treatment information, and daily fatigue.
The app provides a format for accessing exercise instructions outside scheduled classes and in-person coaching sessions.
Its development reflects Dr. Schwartz’s interest in translating exercise oncology research into practical tools that can be used beyond clinical and academic settings.
“Not everyone lives near a cancer exercise program. Strength For Living™ and the Cancer Exercise app put an evidence-based program in your pocket, tailored to how you feel that day,” Dr. Schwartz says.
The app is a supportive exercise resource and is not a substitute for medical evaluation or individualized clinical care.
Research Developments Informing the Field
Scientific research continues to examine how structured exercise may contribute to cancer care and survivorship.
A randomized clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025 evaluated a structured exercise intervention involving 889 participants who had completed chemotherapy following surgery for stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer.
The CHALLENGE trial reported differences in disease-free survival between participants assigned to a supervised exercise program and those receiving health education materials.
These findings relate to the specific study population, intervention, and follow-up period. They do not establish equivalent outcomes for other cancer populations or demonstrate the effectiveness of Strength For Living’s services.
The broader research literature informs exercise oncology guidelines while emphasizing the importance of adapting physical activity recommendations to individual medical circumstances.
Strength For Living™ incorporates established exercise principles into its service model without presenting participation as a guarantee of particular clinical outcomes.
Supporting the Development of Accessible Exercise Oncology Services
As healthcare organizations prepare for evolving exercise oncology requirements, the availability of qualified exercise professionals and appropriate community resources remains an important consideration.
Strength For Living’s combination of in-person instruction, online programming, registered dietitian services, and mobile technology reflects one approach to providing exercise and nutrition support through different settings.
Dr. Schwartz’s work also contributes to a broader field that includes academic researchers, healthcare institutions, rehabilitation professionals, and community-based organizations.
The company’s expanded service model is designed to accommodate different participation formats while maintaining an emphasis on individualized programming and professional guidance.
Through this development, Strength For Living™ continues its work of translating exercise oncology research into services for people living with and beyond cancer.
About Strength For Living
Strength For Living™ is an exercise and nutrition support program operated by Coleman Health, LLC, led by exercise oncology pioneer Dr. Anna L. Schwartz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN. The program provides personalized exercise instruction and nutrition guidance for individuals undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment. Services include in-person classes across multiple states, nationwide online programming, and support from certified exercise professionals and registered dietitians. More information is available at DrAnnaLSchwartz.com and CancerExerciseApp.com. Connect through Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, or email DrAnna@DrAnnaLSchwartz.com.