The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre | Wellness Centre

			The Living with Cancer Education Program is for people with cancer, as well as their family and friends. The program has been designed by the Cancer Council Victoria, and is based on seventeen years' research of participants' needs. The program is now offered by other state cancer organisations and, in some areas, is available in several languages. What is the Living with Cancer Program? The program provides information and the opportunity to develop skills to enhance quality of life. The emphasis is on participants interacting and sharing with each other. The program is designed to suit both men and women with different types of cancer, ranging from newly diagnosed to recurrent. Guest speakers are experts in their field. The program is: Run in small groups Two hours a week For different cultures and languages Held in a relaxed, informal setting The program addresses questions such as: How can I make informed decisions? How important is diet? What exercises are beneficial? How can community resources help? How can others help? The program provides the opportunity to improve skills in: Getting the most out of your healthcare team Coping better with treatments and side effects Relaxing and managing stress Communicating with children, family and others The benefits of the Living with Cancer Program: Increases knowledge and understanding of cancer treatments Sets up discussions in a supportive group Enables a sharing of experiences Decreases the feeling of aloneness Enhances coping skills Encourages an understanding of changed circumstances Improves services for others Topics covered in the program include: What is cancer? Cancer treatments and myths Proven and unproven treatments The healthcare team Personal experiences and emotions Communicating with family and others Relationships and self-esteem Healthy eating Relaxation and supportive options Loss and grief Self-care Community resources You are welcome to join as an individual or with a support person. If you are a local resident, to join the Living with Cancer Education Program at Austin Health call our Social Worker. Phone: 03 9496 5419. Or to join a Living with Cancer Education Program near you, or to find out more, contact: Cancer Helpline: 13 11 20 Email: lwcep@cancervic.org.au Internet: www.cancervic.org.au Course facilitators are accredited with the State Training Authority of Victoria. The Cancer Council Victoria 1 Rathdowne Street, Carlton, VIC 3053 Telephone: (03) 9635 5000 Fax: (03) 9635 5270 Email: enquiries@cancervic.org.au Internet: www.cancervic.org.au "The program enlightened my views and brought the 'living' back into my life." "The array of different guest speakers who answered our questions was great." "The program helped me to know where and how to seek information about cancer." "Being able to communicate in my own language gave me great satisfaction."

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