ACE Cancer Exercise Specialist study plan
ACE Cancer Exercise Specialist · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Cancer Fundamentals: Pathology, Staging, and Medical Management
Differentiate benign from malignant neoplasms by describing the hallmarks of cancer in your own words
Map the TNM system to stage groupings I–IV and explain how stage shapes prognosis and exercise eligibility
Compare the mechanisms of surgery, cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted/immunotherapy in a written summary
Define treatment-intent terms (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, curative, palliative) and match each to a rehabilitation timeline
Your checkpoint
Build a four-column reference sheet (TNM descriptor, stage group, treatment intent, exercise implication) and score at least 80% on a 20-item self-quiz covering it
Cancer Fundamentals: Pathology, Staging, and Medical Management & Effects of Cancer and Cancer Treatments on Physiological and Functional Capacity
Explain how myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity, and peripheral neuropathy alter exercise tolerance
Trace the pathway from tumor burden and treatment to fatigue, anemia, and reduced aerobic capacity
Classify common cancer types by the functional deficits they typically produce
Interpret hemoglobin, platelet, and absolute neutrophil count values against published exercise thresholds
Your checkpoint
Complete a 15-case lab-value-to-exercise-decision worksheet with a one-sentence rationale for each case, scoring at least 90% accuracy
Effects of Cancer and Cancer Treatments on Physiological and Functional Capacity
Describe how radiation fibrosis, androgen deprivation, aromatase inhibition, and corticosteroids affect muscle, bone, and body composition
Summarize the physiology of deconditioning, sarcopenia, and cachexia and state the load-progression implications of each
Explain lymphedema risk mechanisms after axillary surgery and regional radiation
Identify fatigue, sleep, and mood pathways that cancer treatment disrupts and how each influences session tolerance
Your checkpoint
Produce a treatment side-effect to exercise-modification matrix with 10 rows, then reconcile every row against your course notes and correct any discrepancy
Pre-Exercise Screening, Medical Clearance, and Risk Stratification
Apply pre-exercise screening and medical-clearance algorithms to cancer-specific scenarios
Stratify risk using cardiac, skeletal, hematologic, and infection-related criteria
Determine when physician clearance is required before starting or continuing a program
Distinguish absolute from relative contraindications to exercise
Your checkpoint
Score at least 85% on a 25-question risk-stratification quiz and write justifications for five borderline clearance decisions
Exercise Assessment and Program Design Across the Cancer Continuum
Select and interpret assessment tools such as the 6-minute walk test, estimated 1RM, grip strength, and patient-reported outcome measures
Design a 12-week progressive aerobic and resistance program for a breast cancer survivor after adjuvant therapy
Adjust frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, and progression for active treatment versus survivorship
Write progression and regression rules keyed to RPE and symptom response
Your checkpoint
Write two complete 12-week programs (active treatment and survivorship) with FITT-VP tables and progression rules, self-scored against a 10-point rubric with at least 8 points
Exercise Assessment and Program Design Across the Cancer Continuum & Safety Considerations, Contraindications, and Symptom Management During Exercise
Modify exercise prescription for bone metastases, thrombocytopenia, and cardiotoxicity
Apply stopping rules and symptom-based modification for fatigue, pain, and dyspnea
Explain infection-control and hygiene precautions during periods of myelosuppression
Interpret vital signs and RPE data to make real-time in-session adjustments
Your checkpoint
Create a one-page red-flag-to-action decision card covering eight safety scenarios and rehearse it aloud in under five minutes
Safety Considerations, Contraindications, and Symptom Management During Exercise & Behavior Change, Psychosocial Support, and Interprofessional Collaboration
Separate contraindications that require stopping exercise from those that require only modification
Apply motivational interviewing techniques in a treatment-related fatigue scenario
Map referral pathways and role boundaries within the interdisciplinary oncology team
Screen for distress, depression, and body-image concerns and route to appropriate referral
Your checkpoint
Record a 10-minute mock counseling session and self-review it with a motivational-interviewing fidelity checklist, meeting at least 7 of 10 items
Behavior Change, Psychosocial Support, and Interprofessional Collaboration & Exercise Assessment and Program Design Across the Cancer Continuum
Synthesize the transtheoretical model, self-efficacy, and social cognitive theory into a relapse-prevention plan
Draft a written interprofessional referral note using a structured communication format
Complete a full-length 100-item practice exam and analyze error patterns by domain
Build an exam-day strategy targeting your two lowest-scoring domains
Your checkpoint
Finish the practice exam at 80% or higher overall, with an itemized error log and a one-page remediation plan
Milestones
Week 2: Pass a 20-question checkpoint on domains 1 and 2 at 80% or higher and explain three lab-value exercise decisions without notes
Week 4: Pass a 30-question cumulative quiz covering domains 1 to 3 at 80% or higher, with domain 3 alone at 85% or higher
Week 6: Pass a 40-question cumulative quiz covering domains 1 to 5 at 80% or higher and deliver the red-flag decision card from memory in under five minutes
Week 8: Score 80% or higher on the full-length 100-item practice exam with no domain below 70%