HER Education × Nicola Begley
Exercise Oncology: Breast Cancer Mastery
The clinical foundations, treatment frameworks, and exercise prescription skills to work confidently with breast cancer clients from diagnosis through survivorship.
The Gap
Most EPs working with breast cancer clients are worried about doing harm.
You might already be seeing these clients. You're adjusting programs on instinct, second-guessing prescriptions during treatment, and quietly worried that you're missing something clinically important. The training you've received doesn't cover oncology in any real depth, and there's very little practical guidance on how exercise actually intersects with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy.
Or you're not seeing them yet, but you know this population deserves better access to qualified exercise professionals and you want to be one of them. You just don't feel equipped to step in.
Either way, the gap isn't confidence. It's knowledge. And knowledge is fixable.
"The Breast Cancer Mastery program exists to close that gap. Not with surface-level theory, but with the clinical depth and real-world case studies that actually change how you practice."
What You'll Walk Away With
After completing this program, you will be able to:
Clinical Foundations
Understand breast cancer terminology, staging, grading, and the fundamentals of exercise oncology so you can speak the clinical language of this population with confidence.
Treatment Pathways
Navigate each medical phase — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and survivorship — and adapt exercise prescription appropriately for each stage.
Side Effect Management
Identify and respond to the most clinically significant side effects including post-surgical rehabilitation, cording, radiation fibrosis, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, and pelvic health changes.
Exercise Prescription
Apply evidence-based exercise prescription across the full breast cancer continuum, grounded in real case studies that bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.
Clinical Confidence
Move from uncertainty to clarity. Step into consultations with breast cancer clients, current or future, knowing you have the knowledge and frameworks to deliver safe, meaningful care.
Specialty Practice
Build a credible, evidence-informed niche in exercise oncology so you can grow your professional reputation and attract the clients who need your skills most.
Your Educator
Nicola Begley
Accredited Exercise Physiologist | MExMed (Oncology) | Founder, The Active Studio
Nicola is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a Master's degree in Exercise Medicine specialising in Oncology and over a decade of hands-on clinical experience working with women affected by breast cancer. She is the founder of The Active Studio, a Sydney-based exercise physiology clinic, and the co-creator of The Active Education Program for allied health professionals.
Her clinical expertise sits in supporting women through the full breast cancer continuum — from diagnosis, through active treatment, and into survivorship — using personalised, evidence-based exercise interventions. Her work in this space grew from witnessing firsthand how profoundly exercise could shift physical and emotional recovery, and how poorly equipped most practitioners felt to deliver it.
As an educator, Nicola bridges the gap between research and real-world practice with deep clinical knowledge and a teaching style built around practical application. This program reflects everything she wishes had existed earlier in her career.
Program Inclusions
Everything you need to go from uncertain to capable.
8.5 hours of in-depth clinical teaching, recorded and available in your student portal from day one. Watch at your own pace, revisit as often as you need.
Every lesson also has a podcast-style audio recording so you can learn on the move, whether that's commuting, between clients, or at the gym.
A comprehensive manual including clinical templates, case studies, and example programs. Fully downloadable and yours to keep as a reference tool beyond portal access.
Private access to a dedicated community group for oncology-specific discussions, peer support, and ongoing questions with fellow students and educators.
Access to the broader HER Education community for women's health EP discussions, networking, and connection with practitioners across all programs.
On passing the completion assessment, you'll receive a certificate you can use as evidence for CPD logbooks. Claim approximately 7.5 CPD points under further education.
The Curriculum
4 Lessons + 1 Bonus. 8.5 Hours of Clinical Depth.
Foundations of Breast Cancer and Exercise
90–120 min- Cancer terminology demystified — understanding the language your medical team uses
- Staging and grading of breast cancer: what it means clinically and how it guides your approach
- Breast cancer subtypes, receptor status (ER, PR, HER2), and what this means for treatment
- The evidence base for exercise in oncology — why exercise is medicine in cancer care
- Exercise physiology fundamentals applied to the breast cancer population
- How to position yourself as a safe, credible practitioner in the oncology space
Breast Cancer Treatment and Exercise Mechanisms
90–120 min- Overview of the breast cancer treatment continuum from diagnosis to survivorship
- Surgery types (lumpectomy, mastectomy, reconstruction) and exercise considerations at each stage
- Chemotherapy protocols, mechanism of action, and how they affect exercise capacity and prescription
- Radiation therapy: tissue changes, fatigue patterns, and safe exercise during treatment
- Hormone therapy and its long-term effects on bone density, joint health, and fatigue
- Survivorship: long-term surveillance, recurrence risk, and building a sustainable exercise program
- How to adapt prescription across each phase to maintain safety and maximise therapeutic benefit
Navigating Side Effects and Exercise Prescription — Part 1
90–120 min- Post-surgical rehabilitation: return-to-movement protocols, precautions, and progressive loading principles
- Axillary cording (lymphatic cording): recognition, clinical implications, and exercise modification
- Scar tissue management: how exercise can support tissue remodelling and restore mobility
- Seromas: what they are, how to identify them, and when to refer or modify
- Radiation fibrosis: tissue changes, mobility loss, and targeted exercise strategies
- Case study 1: Post-surgical rehab — full prescription walkthrough from assessment to program design
- Case study 2: Cording and scar tissue — clinical reasoning and practical intervention
- Case study 3: Radiation fibrosis — adapting exercise as tissue changes evolve
Navigating Side Effects and Exercise Prescription — Part 2
90–120 min- Cancer-related fatigue (CRF): how it differs from normal fatigue and why standard advice fails this population
- Evidence-based exercise prescription for CRF — pacing, intensity, and building tolerance
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): mechanisms, assessment, and exercise adaptation
- Balance, proprioception, and fall risk in clients with peripheral neuropathy
- The breast cancer and pelvic health connection — why pelvic floor dysfunction is common and often missed
- Exercise prescription considerations for clients with pelvic health symptoms alongside active treatment
- Case study 4: Cancer-related fatigue — building a program that works with the body, not against it
- Case study 5: Peripheral neuropathy — safe, targeted exercise in a high-risk presentation
- Case study 6: Breast cancer and pelvic health — integrating both presentations in one client
Bonus: Live Q&A Recording
Bonus- Live student questions answered in full by Nicola — covering clinical edge cases and real scenarios
- Practical discussion on communication with oncology teams and multidisciplinary collaboration
- How to build your reputation as a trusted EP in the oncology and allied health space
- Marketing your services ethically and confidently to this population
Is This Program Right for You?
Be honest with yourself.
This is for you if...
You're an EP or allied health professional who wants to work confidently with breast cancer clients
You're already seeing oncology clients and want deeper clinical grounding to improve your prescriptions
You want evidence-based frameworks, not just surface-level theory
You're ready to build or grow a specialty in exercise oncology
You have no prior oncology experience but want to step into this space properly prepared
This is not for you if...
You're looking for a general fitness or exercise prescription course with no clinical depth
You want a short webinar overview rather than a deep clinical program
You're not interested in working with complex or medically compromised populations
You want a passive learning experience without case study application
What Students Are Saying
From the people who've been through it.
“This is by far the best course I've done. I was blown away by the depth of this course and loved the real-world application. Also appreciated the opportunity to ask questions and have the last session be more tailored to student needs. Well done Nicola and Courtenay!”
“The course covered so much, which has deepened my knowledge and understanding of the breast cancer journey. Having the workbooks as a reference tool to come back to means I am more confident that I can treat them when I get the opportunity.”
“Nicola was amazing! Not only clearly knowledgeable on the subject, but enthusiastic and keen to share her knowledge. The depth of teaching in this program was fantastic. Seeing how these principles are all brought together with real world case studies was super helpful.”
Enrol Today
Start learning at your own pace.
One-time payment · Instant access
4 recorded lessons + bonus Q&A (8.5 hours)
Audio versions of every lesson
Downloadable learning manual, templates and case studies
6 months portal access to all lesson recordings
Breast Cancer Mastery private community (lifetime access)
HER Education Super Community (lifetime access)
Certificate of completion + ~7.5 CPD points
Available now. Learn at your own pace. Portal access begins immediately on purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you enrol.
Is the program ESSA accredited?
Not yet formally, though accreditation is planned. There are approximately 7.5 learning hours and you can claim CPD points under further education, where 1 learning hour equals 1 CPD point. On passing the completion assessment you'll receive a certificate of completion to use as evidence in your digital logbook.
What qualifies Nicola to teach in this space?
Nicola holds a Master's degree in Exercise Medicine specialising in Oncology, which provided in-depth training in cancer biology, treatment pathways, clinical complications, and the evidence-based use of exercise across the cancer continuum. Beyond her formal qualifications, she has over 10 years of hands-on clinical experience working with women affected by breast cancer from diagnosis through survivorship.
How long do I have access to the course?
You have 6 months access to all lesson recordings through your online student portal. The learning manuals and resources are downloadable and yours to keep as a permanent reference once the portal closes. Community access to both the Breast Cancer Mastery group and the HER Education Super Community is lifetime.
I have no previous oncology experience. Is this still appropriate for me?
Yes. There are no prerequisites. This program is designed for the practitioner who knows exercise plays a powerful role in cancer recovery but doesn't yet feel equipped to step into that space. It covers everything from foundational terminology through to advanced side effect management and prescription.
I don't currently see oncology clients. Is it still worth doing?
Absolutely. You can't attract clients in a specialty you're not yet skilled in. Building the knowledge first is what creates the credibility and confidence to promote your work in this space. This program is built for practitioners who want to grow their niche, whether they're currently working with this population or working toward it.
Ready to work with breast cancer clients with real confidence?
The clinical knowledge, prescription frameworks, and case study experience to step into oncology EP — fully online, self-paced, and available now.
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