The Science of Daily Education and Empowerment
What Is BreastPEP?
BreastPEP is a customized version of the Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (CancerPEP), tailored specifically for individuals affected by breast cancer. It is a comprehensive, daily, home-based, 6-month (26-week) empowerment program designed and delivered by an oncologist and a psychology professor scientist (husband and wife team). Participants receive a daily email and short PEP video that guide, demonstrate, and motivate them to engage in evidence-based, health-promoting practices from home.
Hybrid Delivery Model
BreastPEP is delivered in a hybrid format designed to meet you where you are.
You will receive daily emails and short videos covering all program components, and once a month we meet live onlineas a group for connection, coaching, and support. This blended approach provides the structure of daily at-home practice with the encouragement and accountability of real-time sessions.
What the BreastPEP Program Includes
NEW: Breast-Cancer-Specific Arm & Shoulder Physiotherapy Module
Specialized daily physiotherapy videos designed to support mobility, strength, range of motion, and lymphatic health after breast cancer surgery or treatment—promoting safe recovery and long-term upper-body function.
Aerobic exercise
Including qi gong and yoga, which build cardiovascular fitness and enhance strength, balance, and flexibility.
Strength training with guided follow-along videos
A progressive training program with multiple levels of difficulty, using elastic resistance bands provided to you as part of the program.
Anti-cancer nutrition guidance
Supported by cooking videos that demonstrate simple, evidence-based, anti-inflammatory recipes.
Relaxation, stress-reduction, and breathwork techniques
Helping you regulate your nervous system, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and build emotional resilience.
Relationship, connection, and resilience skills
Teaching communication, meaning-making, and habits that strengthen emotional well-being and social support.
The program includes live monthly online videoconferences with the program leads (Drs. Ilie and Rutledge) and fellow participants, as well as access to an optional Facebook support group. Throughout the program, we teach you the science of healthy habit formation—how to build sustainable routines, strengthen motivation, and let go of habits that no longer serve your well-being. Click play on the introductory video below to learn more.
To join the BreastPEP trial you must be recently diagnosed with breast cancer and not to have had received yet your treatment.
To watch our documentary Empower—winner of Best Documentary at the 2025 Mosaic International Film Festival—please click the link below.
What does it mean to truly live, even when life feels uncertain?
To enrol in BreastPEP or to learn more please contact our Research Team by emailing PEP@nshealth.ca or calling 902 473-7727. If you have a prostate cancer diagnosis and you would like to learn more about the Pan-Canadian International Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) trial please visit pcpep.org.
bcpep.org 