Steps to a Healthy Life

Since its inception in 2007, the ICA project "Steps to a Healthy Life" has aimed to:

• Expose cancer patients to the healthy advantages of physical activity.
  
  
• Encourage cancer patients to build time in their schedule for planned, structured physical activity and make it part of their daily routine.
  
  
• Offer consultation and guidance to patients who wish to join.   
  
  
• Provide workshops that are held at the various medical centers and ICA branches in the community.

• Prof.  Naama Constantini, a Sports Medicine Specialist at Hadassah Optimal's Sports Medicine Center, serves on a volunteer basis as a professional authority and source of knowledge and updates, regularly responding to questions, and providing professional guidance and supervision. 

• Individual or group training session are led by physical education and physiotherapy professionals. Each participant receives an explanation booklet, a follow up booklet, a pedometer and tension elastic for exercises.
  
  
• 27 departments at medical centers across the country are taking part in this project, and activity is also being expanded to pediatric oncology departments and to community health centers.

• The healthful, physical and emotional advantages of physical activity among cancer patients have been researched in recent years. Professional literature has demonstrated an improved in patients' sleeping patterns and quality of life (both physical and emotional) as a result of participation in physical activity.

• The various research studies have focused on diverse patient populations, namely:

• Breast cancer patients
  
  
• Colorectal cancer patients
  
  
• Bone marrow transplant recipients
  
  
• Patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy and more

 
Survivors towards a Healthy Life© "Workshops"

• The aim of this workshop is to help cancer survivors cope with the aftermath of the disease, enhance their quality of life, provide them with tips on how to lead a healthy life, and encourage them to return to their normal personal routine and active community life. 

• The participants take part in a series of professionally moderated meetings which address various topics: returning to one's normal life and family routine, sexuality, health challenges after treatment and coping with long-term side effects, engaging in physical activity tailored specifically to the needs of cancer survivors, developing a customized nutrition plan during and after the disease, complementary medicine for cancer patients and survivors. 

• Workshops are held throughout the year across the country, at the ICA Support and Activity centers and branches, and are organized by the directors of the ICA Support and Activity centers and ICA regional social workers.  

Kindly contact us, should you wish to contribute to this project. Please note that all donations received are transferred in full (no overhead is taken).

• Lili Biller Lev

Committees and Projects Manager

Telephone: +972-3-571.95.74

E-Mail: lilib@cancer.org.il