OICC Launches “Vitality: A Unique Active Lifestyle Program for Cancer Care & Prevention”

Learn how to make exercise a key lifestyle change for cancer prevention and to reduce side effects associated with conventional treatment.

January 8, 2014 – Start the New Year off right on January 14th!  Join a unique 3-month exercise and education program to learn how to make simple lifestyle changes that can reduce risk of cancer, and improve quality of life for cancer patients.

Vitality not only provides step-by-step strength training, flexibility training, and cardiovascular training, but also practical education for cancer prevention and management. Individualized fitness assessments and monitoring are provided both for ongoing safety and to achieve the best results.

Who should join?  Individuals living with cancer, family members, care givers, and those interested in disease prevention.

Research shows physical activity helps those diagnosed with cancer whether or not they were active prior to a cancer diagnosis. It can improve overall well-being as well as one’s chances for long term survival. Research also indicates approximately 40% of some of the most prevalent cancers can be prevented in the first place through lifestyle changes that include exercise and diet.

Cancer has now outpaced heart disease in Canada. Two out of five Canadians will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime (46% of men and 41% of women), according to the Canadian Cancer Society. While these numbers are staggering, there are key lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of cancer, and improve the quality of life for those living with this disease.  

Exercise, is one of the most important lifestyle changes to consider, and it is never too late to experience preventative and therapeutic benefits.  Other modifiable health behaviours include maintaining a healthy body weight, eating well, limiting exposure to UV radiation, tobacco, alcohol and infectious agents.

WHAT:   The Vitality Active Lifestyle Program:  A 3-Month Comprehensive Exercise & Education Program for Cancer Prevention. 

WHEN:  Tuesdays & Thursdays, January – April 17, 2014, 11:30 AM -1:00 PM

WHERE:  Ottawa Old Ottawa South Community Centre, 260 Sunnyside Ave 

REGISTER:  Call 613-792-1222, or send an email to info@oicc.ca 

INTERVIEW OP:  Guylaine Perreault, Exercise Therapist and Vitality creator and instructor, is available for media interviews to share tips on how to start exercising, the benefits for cancer prevention, and how exercise can help alleviate side effects from cancer treatment. 

About the OICC

The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) is the first integrative cancer care and research centre in Central and Eastern Canada. As a not-for-profit, regional centre of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, the OICC welcomes patients at any stage and those wishing to prevent cancer or its recurrence. The OICC provides whole-person cancer care to improve the quality of life of those touched by this debilitating disease. The Centre works with patients and physicians, to provide therapeutic programs that decrease side effects and promote health during and after conventional treatments. Through clinical practice, research and education, the OICC strives to assess and reduce possible causes of cancer while exploring innovative integrative treatment approaches. Please visit the OICC website at www.oicc.ca

Watch this OICC video to learn more about the Centre:

For more information, or to schedule an interview with Exercise Therapist, Guylaine Perreault, please contact:

Heidi Vincent
Marketing, Communications & Public Relations
Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre
613-293-3564
hvincent@oicc.ca