Free courses offer physical and emotional support

People living with cancer in the South West will be able to access free in-person and online courses, with the commencement of Cancer Council WA’s Life Now timetable in January 2025.

Cancer Council WA Life Now Program Coordinator, Claire Duffy, said the purpose of the Life Now’s exercise and meditative courses is to introduce mind-body practices in a safe and supportive environment and to empower people to manage their own physical and mental wellbeing.

“Our Life Now courses offer physiological, psychological, and social support to individuals with cancer and their primary carers,” Ms Duffy said.

“We know that people with cancer who exercise regularly have fewer and milder side effects from their treatments.”

For recent Life Now Exercise participant, Wendy Stemp, the Life Now Program helped her build muscle strength and find a supportive community during cancer treatment.

“In 2017, I went to the doctor because I thought I had kidney stones,” Wendy said.

“They sent me for a CT scan, and the technician scanned a little higher to discover a tumour on my liver.

“This chance discovery led to a diagnosis of bile duct cancer and I went on to undergo several treatments, including surgery and chemotherapy.

“One year later, the cancer reappeared, and I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.”

During this time, Wendy signed up to one of Cancer Council WA’s Life Now Exercise courses and later participated in a Life Now Yoga course.

“My last scan showed that I was in remission and one of the findings was that I have achieved significant increase in muscle in my chest and arms,” she said.

“We attribute this increase in muscle to participating in the Life Now Exercise course.

“Staying active has been immensely valuable. In addition to the physical benefits, I found that being surrounded by others who are also living with cancer created a supportive and uplifting atmosphere.

“I encourage anyone diagnosed with cancer to sign up to one of the many Life Now courses being offered in 2025.”

Ms Duffy said she is always delighted to hear such positive feedback from participants.

“Supportive care activities such as Life Now exercise, meditation, mindfulness, tai chi, mindful art and yoga are known to have a range of benefits to people with cancer, but it’s especially pleasing to hear first-hand from people like Wendy just how Life Now courses have improved their lives,” she said.

Yoga

Exercise

Tai Chi

Meditation

Mindfulness

To apply, visit the Cancer Council WA website at www.cancerwa.asn.au and view the Event Calendar, or call 13 11 20 to speak to a cancer nurse.

Eligibility criteria apply. Registrations are essential as spaces are limited.