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Cabrini Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre patient exercises

Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre

The centre embeds research into the development and evaluation of its programs and services in a relaxed, welcoming and comfortable environment.

About the centre

Cabrini’s Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre is a warm and welcoming environment where patients can receive supportive care and therapy. Our services focus on your health and wellbeing by providing exercise and education programs from our dedicated specialist multidisciplinary health care team.

What we offer

Whether you are newly diagnosed, going through cancer treatment or adjusting to life after treatment or living with cancer we can focus on your health and wellbeing.  Our services:

  • Rehabilitation oncology programs that include both exercise and education sessions
  • Individual consultations with our dedicated specialist allied health team including exercise (physiotherapist and exercise physiologist), nutrition, lymphoedema, psychology and bladder, bowel and sexual health.
  • Mind body such as relaxation, mindfulness and yoga
  • Peer support groups

Research indicates that exercise helps lessen the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment by improving physical function and quality of life, help improve weakness and fatigue.  Our education sessions will inform you; help develop resilience, help improve your emotional concerns and improve communication with loved ones.  People who are well-informed about cancer and cancer management are more confident when talking with their health care providers. Wellness considers your lifestyle, encompassing your mental, emotional and spiritual health.

  • Referral and booking enquires

    P (03) 9508 1700

    F (03) 9508 1455

    General enquiries

    P (03) 9508 1840

  • Referral and booking enquires

    access@cabrini.com.au

    General enquiries

    wellnesscoordinator@cabrini.com.au

  • Referrals

     

    To refer your patient to the Cabrini Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre please complete the downloadable referral form and return it to us via email or fax.

    Download our referral form 

  • If you are interested in attending the Cabrini Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre you can ask your treating healthcare professional to refer you. They can fill in the form overleaf and return it to us.

    Alternatively, you can self-refer and we can contact you to discuss our services and how they may maximise your wellness while dealing with cancer. We are here to guide and support you.

    Download our referral form

Oncology Rehabilitation programs

Cancer - lady in the gym with weights

Early Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Program

Our early breast rehabilitation programs will provide you with specialist support, education, and individually tailored exercise to better manage your health and wellbeing.

General Oncology Rehabilitation Program

Our general oncology rehabilitation programs will provide you with specialist support, education, and individually tailored exercise to better manage your health and wellbeing.

As a participant of the programs above, you will have:

  • An initial appointment with a rehabilitation physician
  • An individual assessment with a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist who will tailor an exercise program for you
  • 12 specialised exercise and education programs provided by our dedicated multidisciplinary team over a twice a week over 6-weeks (2 days per week)

To register download our referral form

This may be fully covered by private health insurance depending on your policy and excess. Please call our Access team on 9508 1700 to book or enquire further about our program or e-mail: Access Cabrini Community Services access@cabrini.com.au 

Strength & Conditioning programs

Male patient strength and conditioning

Strength & Conditioning Programs

Our group-based strength and conditioning programs comprises o 10 exercise sessions run by our exercise physiologists. This is a fee-for-service program and may be claimable on health insurance extras.

You can self-refer; please contact ACCESS on phone: (03) 9508 1700, or email Access Cabrini Community Services: access@cabrini.com.au.

This program is also appropriate for clients who have ongoing exercise goals after their Oncology Rehabilitation program has finished.

Individual consultations

Individual-consultation-at-the-Exercise-and-Wellness Centre

Different fees apply for each service. An enhanced primary care plan, mental health plan or your health insurance extras may subsidise some of the cost but there will still be a gap payable depending on the allied health service required.

Download our referral form

Please call our Access team on 9508 1700 to book or enquire further about our services or e-mail: Access Cabrini Community Services:access@cabrini.com.au

Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiologists will complete an individual assessment to develop a suitable exercise program based on your goals. This can be completed at home, in a gym environment or supervised group-based exercise programs that run within our centre.

Dietetics

Our dieticians can provide information and advice on healthy eating, good nutrition and weight management both during and after treatment. They can assist you to manage treatment related side-effects including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, dry mouth and ulcers.

Physiotherapy

Our skilled oncology physiotherapist can assess and manage musculoskeletal conditions associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Lymphoedema

Lymphoedema (swelling) is a common side effect of cancer or its treatment. Our specialist lymphoedema physiotherapists can provide screening, monitoring, early intervention and complex management.

Psychology

Being diagnosed with cancer can be very distressing for patients and their families. It can challenge beliefs about self and the future. We have psychologists who can provide evidence-based interventions at all stages of the cancer experience including fear, sadness, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

Mind-Body classes

Guys on a yoga mat

These classes are FREE for Cabrini cancer patients only, in person at the Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre.

You can attend 6 free classes (for each program), and, in the future, you will have the option of joining virtual classes. You will be provided with a yoga mat to use if you like, or you can sit in one of our comfortable chairs in a quiet space.

Please note:
After registering and placing your order you will receive a text message reminding you. Your bookings will not be accepted until you click “Place Order” in the checkout. You can add other different classes to the cart.

Book online

Relaxation

Facilitated by our skilled psychologists these sessions will further support your wellness during your cancer treatment. The aim of relaxation is to reduce stress and tension, take time out from the busyness of thoughts and create a sense of calm. These sessions will teach you about the importance of practicing relaxation, learn how to take slow deep breaths to control your breathing if you are anxious or dealing with pain, teach you about progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery to help reduce tension, stress, improve mood and sleep and improve quality of life.

Mindfulness

Facilitated by our skilled psychologists these sessions will further support your wellness during your cancer treatment. Mindfulness is a practice that teaches you to place your attention on being in the present moment to reduce struggles with own thoughts and feelings, awareness of breathing, and body scan. The aim of mindfulness is for you to learn more about how to achieve a balance between mind, body, and emotions. These sessions will provide you with an opportunity for you to focus on techniques to help you reduce stress and anxiety and improving coping and quality of life.

Yoga – coming soon

Yoga a holistic mind-body therapy class to compliment cancer care and can help with fatigue, pain management, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance by focussing on gentle stretching and strengthening, which can reduce muscle stiffness leading to improved physical comfort and quality of life. Yoga addresses mind and body connection and emotional balance and stability.

Wig service

Cabrini Wig services

The Wig room

The Wig room is a free service for Cabrini patients who are losing their hair as a result of cancer treatment.

This service is run by a team of dedicated volunteers. This service runs on a Tuesday afternoon and bookings are essential.

Please call our Access team on 9508 1700 to book or enquire further about this service or e-mail: Access Cabrini Community Services access@cabrini.com.au 

Peer Support Group

Hand supporting a patient emotionally

Cancer Peer Support Group

Our monthly Cancer peer support group is held on the 4th Friday of each month in the Wellness Centre (refer to FAQs – how to find us). This is an opportunity for patients to meet and connect with each other and share their experiences, challenges and fears in a supportive environment.

Book online

Brain Cancer Support Group

This group empowers patients and carers with information and support as they live with brain cancer.
Please contact 0427 586 443 E: neurooncology@cabrini.com.au.

Read more about our brain cancer services

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Refer to our centre

GPs can refer a patient to the Cabrini Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre or patients can self-refer and we will contact you to discuss our services and how they may maximise your wellness while dealing with cancer. We are here to guide and support you.

Please complete the downloadable referral form and return it to us via email or fax.

Frequently asked questions