PINC & STEEL

10/12/2025

Cancer diagnoses are set to increase dramatically and so will the need for rehabilitation.

As reported on Breakfast this morning, new data from Te Aho o Te Kahu / Cancer Control Agency shows cancer diagnoses in New Zealand are projected to rise from around 30,000 a year today to more than 45,000 by 2044 — an increase of 50%.
RNZ+1
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/581467/cancer-diagnosis-numbers-set-to-skyrocket-by-50-percent-over-next-two-decades

This surge isn’t just about diagnosis numbers. It signals a growing wave of people who will require ongoing support: rehabilitation, recovery services, and survivorship care - not just treatment. That’s where the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation comes in.

We believe now is the time to build stronger support pathways so that as demand increases, no one slips through the cracks. When treatment ends, recovery shouldn’t.

Imagine what we could do with more resources:
• Create equitable access to rehabilitation, regardless of diagnosis, age, or location
• Reach underserved communities and tumour groups beyond the “norm”
• Offer both in-person and online support to reduce access barriers
• Raise awareness and ensure people know support exists

As cancer numbers rise, so too does the responsibility we all share to ensure people can recover well. Rehabilitation must be part of the conversation.

10/12/2025

Congratulations to our PaddleOn Caster Bay crew!
For the past five weeks, they have been rising at the crack of dawn, long before most of the city is awake to challenge themselves on the water.

PaddleOn isn’t just about learning new paddling skills after cancer treatment — it’s about rebuilding trust in your body. Every session brings small but powerful shifts:
• improved balance
• stronger core and mobility
• growing fitness and confidence
• the mindset change that comes when you realise your body is capable again and life after cancer treatment still holds potential

But the magic goes beyond the physical.

There’s something uniquely healing about being on the water. Research shows that time near the ocean can boost feel-good brain chemicals, lower stress, ease anxiety, and support clearer thinking and better sleep.

And then there’s the connection.

Sharing the water with others who understand the journey adds courage, laughter, and a sense of belonging that you simply can’t measure but can feel deeply.

🏄‍♀️💛🌅

08/12/2025

We are delighted to announce that Amy Foote, Radiation Therapist (Dunedin), has joined the Board of the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation.

Amy brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to equity in cancer care. With experience across both public and private oncology services throughout Aotearoa, she has seen first-hand the transformational impact that cancer rehabilitation has on recovery, confidence, and wellbeing.

Alongside her clinical background, Amy’s ongoing study in public health and an MBA strengthens her governance, organisational leadership, and system-level thinking - all critical as we work to expand access to rehabilitation for every New Zealander affected by cancer.

Amy is passionate about supporting the Foundation’s growth and long-term sustainability, ensuring more people can access the care they deserve.

We are thrilled to have her expertise, energy, and heart strengthening our governance and helping steer our vision forward.

Nau mai, Amy - we’re so pleased to have you with us.

03/12/2025

This week we welcomed a new cohort of certified graduates into our global PINC & STEEL oncology rehabilitation network.

To our newest graduates: thank you for choosing this work. You’re stepping into a field that meets people not just in strength, but in vulnerability.
You’re part of a group with some of the kindest, most committed professionals I’ve ever known.
The support you provide matters.
It changes recoveries.
It lifts individuals and everyone who loves and depends on them.
It strengthens communities.

PINC & STEEL was founded from witnessing needless suffering - people completing cancer treatment relieved to be alive, yet unsure how to trust their bodies or lives again. That unmet need continues to drive our purpose today.

Our global workforce embodies what the research proves and what patients already know: Rehabilitation is not an optional extra - it is a critical bridge between treatment and reclaiming everyday life.

Thank you for dedicating your time and energy to this important work - it makes a huge difference.

28/11/2025

The hidden cost of recovery after cancer — in people’s own words.
We recently spoke with people living with and beyond cancer about what life is really like after treatment.

The insights were raw, honest, and captured a reality that’s rarely talked about — fatigue, pain, loss of identity, and silence to protect the people they love.

To everyone who opened up and shared their story: thank you.

Your voices are shedding light on what so many experience in silence.
This lack of structured recovery support is not only inequitable — it’s invisible.
And it’s costing people years of vitality, function, and wellbeing after treatment ends.
We can’t fix what we don’t acknowledge.

Read more here:
🔗https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reality-few-talk-lou-james-mnzm--ixcxc

Why recovery is about so much more than finishing treatment. “You survived.

27/11/2025

💙 Massive thanks to the Community Trust Mid & South Canterbury

Thank you for helping more people facing cancer reclaim their quality of life through cancer rehabilitation. Your support has enabled us to meet the rapidly growing demand across Mid & South Canterbury — helping to revive strength, restore independence, and rebuild confidence for patients who would otherwise go without.

When cancer recovery is well-supported, the benefits extend far beyond the individual — reducing the load on whānau, reconnecting families, and creating a positive, measurable impact back into workplaces and the wider community.

24/11/2025

Share your experience with bras after breast cancer treatment and be in to win a $50 Prezzy Card ♥️

This survey aims to help breast cancer survivor, Shae Skellern, understand more about the needs and experiences of women who have had breast cancer, particularly when it comes to finding and wearing bras after surgery or treatment.

Your input will help her understand what matters most and where improvements might be needed.
Your responses are appreciated!
https://bit.ly/49vzNnB

17/11/2025

This morning, our Founder Lou James presented at Wellington Hospital to a group of allied health professionals - dietitians, social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists and radiation therapists. These teams work tirelessly with limited resources to support people through some of the hardest moments of a cancer journey.

Across Aotearoa, we’ve seen a 58% increase in hospital-based referrals to the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation this year.

This is significant - because when patients are directed into the right support, the burden isn’t placed back on them to chase help when they’re exhausted and unsure of what comes next.

By strengthening the connection between hospital teams and community-based cancer rehabilitation, we can ensure people don’t fall through the cracks after treatment. Instead, they have access to the support they need to rebuild strength, confidence, and independence.

In the photo below - from left Lou James, Carolyn Cook, Jonathan Congdon and Helen Dixon - all PINC & STEEL trained physiotherapists working within CCDHB.

17/11/2025

Recovery is better when no one is alone.

A cancer diagnosis often brings more than just physical challenges—it can lead to isolation, loneliness, and a sense of disconnection from the world. Research shows that people affected by cancer are more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and even higher mortality rates due to social isolation. The emotional toll can make the recovery journey even harder.

At the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation, we recognise these challenges and are proud to fund group cancer rehab and exercise programs. These programs aren’t just about exercise—they’re about connection, understanding, and mutual support. 🤝

When people come together in these groups:
* They share experiences, reducing feelings of isolation.

* They find motivation to stay committed to health-positive behaviours.

* They inspire and empower one another to rebuild strength, independence, and confidence.

The Research is Clear:
* Social support can reduce psychological distress and improve mental health outcomes.

* Strong connections lead to better physical health and healthier lifestyle choices.

*Peer support fosters a sense of belonging, alleviating the loneliness that often accompanies cancer.

👉🏽visit our website for more information: https://www.pincandsteel.com/programs/group-programs

We have in-person and online options.

10/11/2025

“I never thought I’d walk again.”

Meet William.
At 13, William is rebuilding his strength after a cancer journey that changed everything.

Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at age 10, he underwent a stem cell transplant and battled complications that left him unable to stand or even get into his wheelchair on his own.

The public health system did everything possible to save his life — but when it came to recovery, there were no publicly funded rehab options to help him regain strength or independence.

With the expert care of Physiotherapist Stacey Dangen and funding support from the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation and the Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, William is now getting himself out of bed, into his wheelchair, standing, using his walker, and has returned to school.

His mum, who is also caring for two younger siblings, says the impact has been life-changing, not just for William, but for their whole whānau.

💗 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who makes this possible - our oncology physiotherapists, medical referrers, funders, patient navigators, and generous supporters who ensure people get the help they need when they need it most.

Together, we make recovery possible.

07/11/2025

✨ Meet Holly — running for her mum, and for everyone who deserves support after cancer.

Next weekend, Holly Rutherford will take on the Queenstown Half Marathon in memory of her mum, Kelly — and she’s turning every step into support for people recovering from cancer through PINC & STEEL.

Having recently been through her own physiotherapy journey after shoulder surgery, Holly knows firsthand how life-changing rehab can be — not only for strength and mobility, but for mental health and confidence, too.
Her words say it best:
“Physiotherapy gave me focus, motivation, and a sense of progress each week. It’s transformative — especially for those fighting or recovering from cancer.”

👏 Please join us in cheering Holly on and supporting her incredible effort:
👉 Donate or share Holly’s page here: https://pincandsteel-fundraising.raiselysite.com/holly-rutherford

Queenstown Physiotherapy

02/11/2025

A huge thank you to Aspiring Rotary and physiotherapists, Vicky Hill and Becky Onyett, for their work putting on such a successful Fun Walk/Run in Wānaka this morning 🏃‍♀️💗