A New Beginning after Cancer Treatment
Completing cancer treatment is a milestone — but far from the end of the journey. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other forms of treatment leave traces on body and mind that do not heal overnight. Fatigue, pain, loss of fitness, lymphoedema or mental exhaustion accompany many patients for months after therapy ends.
It is precisely for these guests that the team of physicians and therapists at Ensana in Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) created a specialised post-oncology programme — comprehensive spa care that combines natural healing resources, modern medicine and an individual approach.
That guided exercise and nutritional guidance belong to recovery does not rest on the physicians' experience alone. It stems from the OnkoFit-Spa study, which the spa conducted together with the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University — and on the basis of which it became the first in the Czech Republic to include extended care for women after cancer treatment directly in the standard treatment stay.
Where the Programme Takes Place
Behind the creation of this programme stands the team of physicians and therapists at Ensana in Mariánské Lázně. Specifically, you can choose between two hotels:
Ensana Nové Lázně
A five-star hotel with a rich history, direct access to the natural springs and the Roman Baths. It provides guests with the highest standard of care and meets the needs of even the most discerning. More about the Ensana Nové Lázně hotel.
Ensana Hvězda
One of the best spa hotels in town. It combines a four-star standard of accommodation and modern wellness with a pleasant atmosphere — a professional approach and comfort under one roof. More about the Ensana Hvězda hotel.
Both hotels are situated in the heart of the spa town yet surrounded by nature. Quiet and fresh air are key factors for the effective recovery of body and mind.
Who the Programme Is For
The post-oncology programme is designed for guests who have completed cancer treatment and need to rebuild their physical and mental strength. It does not matter whether it was chemotherapy, radiotherapy or another form of treatment — the programme is composed to meet the specific needs of the remission period and support the return to everyday life.
It will be particularly appreciated by people who are dealing with:
- lymphoedema after surgery or radiation,
- loss of vitality and long-term fatigue,
- pain in the musculoskeletal or nervous system,
- loss of fitness and resilience after demanding treatment,
- mental exhaustion and the need for gentle recovery under professional supervision.
The programme also supports long-term change. Through practical advice it motivates guests to maintain a healthier lifestyle; regular exercise and a sensible diet are among the factors oncologists recommend after treatment.
What You Can Expect from the Programme
The minimum length of stay is seven nights. Throughout, you will receive tasty and nourishing breakfasts, lunches and dinners composed with recovery and the rebuilding of strength in mind.
The programme begins with an initial medical examination, during which a specialist assesses your current state of health and needs and defines the goals of convalescence. On the basis of this examination, an individual treatment plan is drawn up for you, which usually includes:
- therapies using natural healing resources — mineral baths and carbonic baths for relaxation and recovery,
- regular check-ups and medical consultations that allow care to be adjusted continuously according to your current condition,
- nutritional counselling focused on restoring vitality, replenishing nutrients and healthy eating habits after a demanding period of treatment,
- psychological support and relaxation through targeted techniques — massage, breathing exercises or mindfulness practices that help manage stress and improve sleep quality; a spa stay does not, however, replace psychotherapy or psychiatric care if you need it after cancer treatment,
- a stay in a safe and calm environment that creates space for genuine healing.
Which Treatments the Programme Includes
As part of the daily programme you will receive up to three treatments a day, designed by the spa physician:
Classic Healing Treatments
- mineral baths,
- dry gas baths (CO₂),
- drinking cures from the local healing springs.
Targeted Therapies to Restore Fitness
- aquatic exercise,
- individual physiotherapy.
Supportive Care
- paraffin wraps for the hands,
- oxygen therapy.
Nutritional and Laboratory Support
- body composition analysis,
- an individual meal plan and practical advice for the convalescence period,
- blood tests to monitor glucose, cholesterol, liver and kidney function and other important indicators.
And most importantly — if you have any questions, you can turn to the medical and nursing support at any time during your stay.
Why Mariánské Lázně
Mariánské Lázně brings together what matters for post-oncology recovery: natural healing resources with more than two hundred years of tradition, a medical team, a calm environment in the midst of nature and the status of a climatic spa.
What the Research Says
The benefit of the spa environment after cancer treatment is documented above all by the French PACThe randomised trial: in 181 women in remission from breast cancer, a three-week spa programme with a dietitian increased the return to work and family activities after one year and was cost-effective (Mourgues et al., 2014, Eur J Oncol Nurs). An Austrian follow-up of 149 women after breast surgery described better mood and quality of life after three weeks of rehabilitation with carbonic baths and peloids, with the most lasting effect on fatigue (Strauss‑Blasche et al., 2005, Cancer Nurs). The strongest evidence is for supervised exercise itself: meta-analyses of randomised trials show less fatigue and better quality of life after breast and prostate cancer (Cano‑Uceda et al., 2025, Appl Sci), including aquatic exercise (Wang et al., 2022, PLoS ONE). The spa programme therefore does not replace oncological follow-up; it gives it a safe framework in which exercise and diet can be restarted.
The Ensana post-oncology programme is not just a stay at a spa. It is a structured, medically led path back to a full life.
