Believe in You is more than an exercise program—it's a community where cancer survivors come together to grow, and thrive. This free 20-week program, developed by certified exercise physiologists, registered dietitians, and certified health coaches at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, empowers participants to build strength, improve overall well-being, and find encouragement through movement and meaningful connections. From group workouts to optional participation in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, every step of the journey is designed to help you feel stronger, healthier, and supported.
"It started because so many Sylvester patients wanted to participate in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, but they didn't feel they could do it," said Believe in You program director Paola Rossi, M.D., clinical program director of lifestyle medicine at Sylvester. "We've fixed that! I haven't met any participant who has started our program and doesn't feel like they found a community and can get healthier and stronger together. Everyone who comes feels empowered, and that's the true magic of the program."
About the Program
Believe in You is a 20-week complimentary program created to support all cancer survivors, no matter where they are in their journey: before, during or after treatment. Participants are also welcome to bring one companion to join them.
This program offers a variety of training styles—including aerobic, mobility, and resistance training—to help you build strength, confidence, and community. You can attend as many sessions as you'd like, but we encourage everyone to participate in our in-person Saturday sessions and commit to at least two virtual classes per week for the best experience.
Key Dates:
*As a final event of our program, we participate as a team in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC). This event is optional, but we encourage you to be part of it!
Here's how the program is structured:
📊 Pre- and Post-Program wellness testing
All participants have the opportunity to undergo comprehensive fitness assessments at the beginning and end of the program, conducted at our state-of-the-art wellness and performance facility on the Griffin Clinical Research Building.
These assessments are designed to help you track progress, set realistic goals, and better understand your body. Testing includes:
Body Composition Analysis:
Using advanced technology, we measure body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, and more to provide a full picture of your physical health.
Aerobic wellness testing
VO₂max is the gold standard for measuring cardiovascular fitness. It helps us assess how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise—valuable information to guide your workouts and monitor improvements over time.
Strength and Functional Movement Screens:
Evaluate your muscle strength, balance, and movement patterns to help tailor your fitness plan and reduce injury risk.
📧 Weekly Newsletters
Every week, participants receive a digital newsletter filled with:
- Nutrition and exercise advice
- Program updates
- Recipes
“The challenge for many cancer patients is they don't know where and how to safely start a lifestyle program, and, perhaps because of that, many survivors do not meet recommendations for physical activity and nutrition. There is strong evidence in published studies by Sylvester researchers and others that meeting these recommendations can reduce risk of cancer recurrence and mortality and improve survivors' quality of life.”
FAQs
Our Team
Co-Lead, Cancer Control Research Program
Director, Digital Health And Lifestyle Medicine
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miller School Of Medicine, University Of Miami
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
DIVISION OF CANCER CONTROL
SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
ACSM-Cancer Specialist
Tracy Crane, PhD
Associate Professor, Medical Oncology
Co-Lead, Cancer Control Research Program
Director, Digital Health And Lifestyle Medicine
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miller School Of Medicine, University Of Miami
Dr. Crane leads a multi-disciplinary research team to carry out the delivery of digital health lifestyle interventions. In order to successfully conduct, manage and deliver these large-scale trials, her research team utilizes a smart software platform that incorporates voice, text and video, with integrated wearable data, and interfaces with clinical care. Dr. Crane's most recent projects integrate deep learning and natural language processing in an effort to identify precision behavioral interventions to better predict what intervention to use, for whom and when, moving beyond the "one size fits all" approach.
Paola Rossi, MD, MSED, ACSM-EP
Director, Clinical Program - Lifestyle Medicine
Medical Oncology
Division Of Cancer Control
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Paola Rossi, MD, MS in Exercise Physiology, Clinical Program Director of Lifestyle Medicine at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Paola Rossi is a Family and Palliative Care Physician. Born and raised in Argentina, Dr. Rossi developed an early interest in the intersection between medicine, lifestyle, and nutrition, which ultimately led her to pursue a career in family medicine and palliative care. After completing her medical training, Dr. Rossi went on to earn a master's degree in exercise physiology, focusing her research on the role of physical activity and diet in cancer prevention and survivorship. As a medical educator, Dr. Rossi dedicated her tiMe in developing multiple community programs to empower her patients and students with the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their health.
Sandra Anciani-Beltran
Project Coordinator
Sandra Anciani has been with UM since 2018 and brings a decade of experience in healthcare administration. Born and raised in Peru, Sandra holds an Associate of Science degree, and in English Academic Writing. As Project Coordinator for the Believe in You program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, she is dedicated to developing initiatives that empower cancer survivors to build healthier, more active lives through exercise, education, and community.
Madalyn Wheeler, MSEd and ACSM-EP
PHD Candidate, Exercise Physiology
Madalyn is a third-year Ph.D. student in Exercise Physiology at the University of Miami, working under the mentorship of Dr. Tracy Crane. She earned her Master of Science in Education in Applied Physiology from the University of Miami in 2023. Now in her fourth year with Believe in You, the program remains the highlight of her academic journey at UM.
David Rojas
Exercise Physiologist
I am passionate about making sure that survivors and their families feel a sense of community and support through exercise engagement, Cancer is an all-encompassing battle, every little bit helps.
Eiji Tsukamoto
Program Assistant
I'm passionate about oncology and survivorship because the Believe in You program lets me connect with survivors as people, getting to know the person behind the diagnosis, not just the chart.