PROACTIVE support launched for prostate cancer sufferers
Health improvement consultancy Zest People is launching a free 12-week programme for prostate cancer sufferers supported by Prostate Cancer UK and Movember Foundation.
PROACTIVE, which will run in East and West Sussex, is the first of its kind in the UK. The weekly 90-minute sessions are available to anyone who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, whether they are in remission or currently undergoing treatment.
The sessions, taught by specialist Exercise Referral or Cancer Rehabilitation instructors, are divided into discussion and non-compulsory gentle physical activity. Discussion topics relate to health, happiness, diet and physical activity focusing on setting goals and implementing lifestyle and behaviour changes.
Developed by Dr. Tim Anstiss, Founder of The Academy for Health Coaching and a leading authority on behaviour change, the course covers positive psychology, happiness and wellbeing, as well as gradually increasing fitness levels and offering tips for managing weight – all presented in accessible ‘bite sized’ chunks.
Dr Anstiss commented: “Cancer affects people in many ways including anxiety and depression, weight loss or gain, as well as sleep disturbance, all of which can effect relationships. The PROACTIVE course is based on the emerging science of wellbeing and positive psychology, which includes research into the nature of resilience, quality of life and positive emotional states. Lifestyle and psychological factors often make a real difference to quality of life.
“The course includes information about a whole range of things participants can do to protect and improve their health and wellbeing, encouraging and supporting them to make one or two small changes each week. Crucially, the course is entirely voluntary: people participate as much or as little as they want. It’s a group programme and designed to be relaxed and fun, with lots of opportunities for friendly chat and support.”
Catherine Winsor, Community Support Services Manager at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Prostate cancer is on track to become the most common cancer over all by 2030 and there are currently over 300,000 men living with or after the disease in the UK. Dealing with the aftermath of a prostate cancer diagnosis or adjusting to living with the side effects of treatment, can be unbelievably tough for men and their families. This course is a great opportunity for men to take a step back and focus on their overall health and wellbeing through exercise and positive psychology, so that they are in a better frame of mind to deal with blows that living with prostate cancer can often involve.”
Jon Sim, Head of Communities at the Movember Foundation added: “We believe that addressing wellbeing and resilience is a vital part of any health journey, especially for men facing prostate cancer. It’s heartening to know that men in Sussex will have access to this free course. This wouldn’t have been possible without the generous funds raised by the thousands of mo-growers in the UK last Movember.”
Rachel Stokes, Director at Zest People, the local health improvement consultancy delivering the programmes on behalf of Prostate Cancer UK and Movember Foundation, explained: “PROACTIVE has been designed to help men living with prostate cancer improve their health, happiness and wellbeing and ultimately to take control of their lives. We are not going to tell them what to do. We merely make suggestions and help them choose their programme, set their goals, and guide and support them towards success. In this way we can aid the participants to clarify their values and discover and develop their strengths, getting them back to life after prostate cancer.”
The programmes begin in April will run at Withdean Sports Complex in Brighton, Freedom Leisure Hailsham and Worthing Leisure Centre. Registration can be made via GPs, healthcare professionals or directly at http://www.proactivesussex.co.uk/#!sign-up/c1q8g
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Editor’s notes:
Zest People is a community health consultancy which provides physical activity programmes to improve people’s health and wellbeing by focusing on long-term behavior change. Working at both strategy and delivery level on a range of health agendas, Zest People encompass all elements of evidence-based research. Clients include DoH, Sport England, Brighton & Hove City Council, Prostate Cancer UK as well as working in an advisory capacity with Government Office for Health and Work and Wellbeing.
www.zestpeople.co.uk
For further information contact:
Abigail Harris at Big Fish Public Relations
Tel: 07738 331019
Email: abigail@bigfishpublicrelations.co.uk
