Life Now enables people affected by cancer to experience the benefits of keeping mentally and physically active.
Our exercise, meditation, mindful art, mindfulness, tai chi and yoga courses provide an introduction to activities in a safe and supportive small group environment.
Our programs are designed to empower participants by teaching valuable skills and techniques which participants can draw on to help manage their stress and other cancer-related symptoms.
Research shows that these activities can help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for people affected by cancer. Benefits for each of the Life Now Program activity areas include:
- Exercise: Research has found that exercise has great benefits for people with cancer. Cancer patients who exercise regularly have fewer and milder side effects from their treatments. Evidence suggests that exercise can help protect against cancer specific mortality, cancer re-occurrence and all-cause mortality. According to the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia position statement on exercise in cancer care, exercise should be prescribed to all cancer patients as a standard part of their cancer care to help manage the effects of cancer and its treatment.
- Meditation: Research suggests it is useful for treating chronic pain and insomnia. Meditation can also help in reducing anxiety, stress, and blood pressure. Finally, meditation can help improve quality of life for people with cancer.
- Mindful Art: Research has found that participants of Mindfulness Based Art Therapy experience a decrease in symptoms of distress and have increased social functioning, mental health, vitality, and quality of life.
- Mindfulness: Research has found that participants of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programs experience improved mental health as a result of a reduction in stress, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, UWA and Cancer Council WA research conducted in 2016-2017 found Life Now Mindfulness significantly decreased depression, anxiety and repetitive negative thinking.
- Tai Chi: Research has found that participating in tai chi can has positive effects on fatigue levels, immune function, stress levels and quality of life for people with cancer.
- Yoga: Research has found that yoga can lead to improvements in overall quality of life for cancer patients by reducing fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, improving sleep and mood.
Life Now courses are delivered by experienced facilitators and tailor-made for people affected by cancer. Thanks to generous donations from the WA community, courses are free for cancer patients and their primary carer (eligibility criteria apply).
How to get involved
- Find out more about our Life Now courses
- Register your interest in a Life Now course
- Get in touch with our 13 11 20 Cancer Information and Support Line