Beth Hoag, Physiotherapist

02/22/2026

Have you lived through a breast cancer diagnosis and you live in the Ottawa area? Looking for a way to get/stay physically active and be supported by a group of people who “get it?! Think of Dragon Boating with Busting Out Ottawa Dragon Boat Club

Busting Out Ottawa Dragon Boat Club, Ottawa’s only Breast Cancer Dragon Boat team, is seeking new members, and would love for you to join us! No paddling experience necessary!

We’re hosting a Membership Information Event on Tuesday, April 14th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Tom Brown Arena (141 Bayview Station Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4T1). Anyone who has ever received a breast cancer diagnosis is invited to attend to find out about our team, the sport of Dragon Boating, the benefits of participating, and hear some of our members’ inspiring paddling stories. We can’t wait to meet you!

RSVP to membership@bustingoutottawa.ca.
For more information visit

11/24/2025

10/31/2025

An oldie but a goodie!! 🎃👻💀

04/30/2025

This…. 🙏❤️

11/30/2024

💜21 years ago today I said my final goodbye to my beautiful mother.

💜 My heart still aches and burns at the memories of those days, and all the difficult ones that followed.

💜 But I also gratefully hold space for all the good that came after the words “you have cancer.”

💜 If it weren’t for cancer entering our lives when I was 11, I truly do not think I would be doing the work I do today. Growing up with a mother who had metastatic breast cancer was incredibly difficult, but also an incredible gift.

💜 I witnessed the value of time, of the body-mind connection, of truly caring for yourself, of creativity, of empathy, of grace, of timing, of love, of when to choose perseverance and when to choose surrender, and how to follow your heart….

💜 The impact of cancer reaches far beyond physical experience…. And we each have a choice for how we want to show up.

💜 Though I’d be grateful for one more day with my mother here on earth, I am grateful for all the lessons I learned from her and for all the lessons I continue to learn through my own lived experience, including working as a cancer rehab physio for the past 16 years.

💜 I believe so deeply in the importance of quality of life support for everyone diagnosed with cancer. And I know I owe even a small part of that to my mother Flora.

🥂Cheers to you mom… tonight I raise a glass to celebrate you and thank for all the memories. 💜

11/24/2024

What brings you joy?

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know I ask this question a lot!

Being impacted by cancer can be heavy…. Really heavy….

But our nervous system needs some “joy snacks” here and there to have breaks from the ongoing “fight or flight mode” that cancer creates.

Sunday mornings are my “non negotiable time” in the pottery studio. And today I really played…

Here are some new business card holders for my clinic space…. I was literally smiling and giggling as I put these together. They brought me sooooooo much joy today!

They’ll take a few weeks to complete but will soon be found in my clinic space. 💜

10/24/2024

💩 Feeling a little “backed up” during your cancer treatment?

Constipation during chemotherapy and beyond is extremely common and can be extremely uncomfortable.

The 2 most common reasons this happens are:
1. Slow movement of stool through the large intestine
2. Increased tone around the muscles of the pelvic floor

☀️The good news is there are things you can do “get things moving.”

🎥 Come listen to my newest video to learn more.

See you there!

Video Link: https://youtu.be/KcgqwMomCW8

10/10/2024

Do you have tight hips and low back after pelvic radiation?

💥 In my most recent video I share actionable steps you can take starting today to shift your “new normal” from "stiff and sore" ➡️ "mobile and happy."

We’ll discuss:
✅ Movement Snacks
✅ Daily purposeful movement
✅ Targeted stretches...

🤗 To get you feeling better today.

Come join me: https://youtu.be/QcKqGyDG018

09/28/2024

🤨 Have you had pelvic radiation for cancer treatment? Are you feeling stiff in the hips or low back? Maybe you're even starting to feel pain? If so, you need to check out my latest video!

🎥 In this video, we’re going to talk about hip and low back stiffness following radiation therapy of the pelvis.

Specifically we’re going to talk about:
✅ Common symptoms of hip and low back stiffness after pelvic radiation
✅ Why stiffness and pain occur in the hip and low back, and
✅ What you can do today to start feeling better.

Head over to the video here: https://youtu.be/RSVRU2Ui_aI

See you on the other side!

PS. Please help me get the word out by sharing this post.

09/04/2024

💪 Managing Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome

Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS) can be frustrating and confusing, but with the right strategies, you can manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life!

🙆‍♀️ From deep breathing to targeted exercises, there are steps you can take today to feel better right away.

Curious to learn more?

📝 Check out my blog on Radiation Fibrosis and discover how to take control of your cancer recovery path.

Read my blog here: https://bethhoagphysio.ca/radiation-induced-fibrosis-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/

08/28/2024

🎗️ Understanding Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome

⚠️ Radiation therapy might be essential in treating cancer, but its effects don’t end when the treatment does.

⏳ Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS) can appear months or even years later, gradually affecting your mobility, causing pain, and more.

✅ Knowing the early signs can make a huge difference to minimizing the impact and starting appropriate treatment (hint: some are exercises you can do yourself!)

Watch my latest YouTube video to learn more about radiation fibrosis syndrome of the breast and what you can do to manage it.

Watch the full video HERE: https://youtu.be/dhpm7nITnXQ

08/21/2024

🤯 Did you know that the following steps can reduce your risk of developing cellulitis after cancer surgery:

✅ Good skin care
✅ Reducing your lymphedema risk
✅ Managing your lymphedema (if you have it)

In my latest blog, I share tips on how to minimize your cellulitis risk and identify it early.

Read my blog here: https://bethhoagphysio.ca/understanding-cellulitis-in-cancer-patients/