Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre

This six-week exercise and education program provide specialist support for woman with breast cancer. This program includes an initial appointment with a rehabilitation physician and an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist. Patients receive a customised exercise program to be completed under specialist supervision. This multidisciplinary program encourages participants to openly discuss and ask questions about treatment side-effects, fatigue management, return to work strategies, sleep, sexuality and psychological flexibility. The program also provides interactive education on other topics such as nutrition, exercise and cancer, relaxation and mindfulness, and lymphoedema.

This six-week exercise and education program provides specialist support for people with all types of cancer. It includes an initial appointment with a rehabilitation physician and an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist. Patients receive a customised exercise program to be completed under specialist supervision and are encouraged to openly discuss and ask questions about treatment side-effects, fatigue management, return to work strategies, relationships, and psychological flexibility. The program also provides interactive education on other topics such as nutrition, exercise and cancer, relaxation and mindfulness, and lymphoedema.

This six-week exercise and education programs provide specialist support for people with secondary cancer. This program includes an initial appointment with a rehabilitation physician and an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist. Patients receive a customised exercise program to be completed under specialist supervision. This multidisciplinary program encourages participants to openly discuss and ask questions about treatment side-effects, fatigue management, and issues of sleep, relationships, and psychological flexibility. The program also provides interactive education on other topics such as nutrition, exercise and cancer, relaxation and mindfulness, cancer and cognition, and how to live well with cancer.

This six-week exercise and education programs provide specialist support for men with prostate cancer. The program includes an initial appointment with a rehabilitation physician and an exercise physiologist. Patients receive a customised exercise program to be completed under specialist supervision and are encouraged to openly discuss and ask questions about treatment side-effects, fatigue management, return to work strategies, relationships, and psychological flexibility. The program also provides interactive education on other topics such as nutrition, exercise and cancer, lymphoedema, continence and pelvic health, relaxation and mindfulness, relationships and intimacy, and how to live well with cancer.

A group-based strength and conditioning program for patients diagnosed with cancer. The program includes an initial 60-minute individual assessment with an exercise physiologist where a customised exercise program will be created. Patients can then attend 10 group-based exercise sessions which is run by our exercise physiologists. After concluding the strength and conditioning program, our exercise physiologists will discuss next steps which may include joining our maintenance exercise program, or other external/community programs.

Lymphoedema (swelling) is a common side effect of cancer or its treatment. Our specialist lymphoedema physiotherapists provide screening, monitoring, early intervention, complex management and advice for those with, or at risk of lymphoedema due to cancer or its treatment.

The Early Intervention Program aims to ensure all patients who have had surgery are reviewed and monitored closely for signs and symptoms of lymphoedema, using state-of-the-art equipment. The program can help to minimise the discomfort associated with swelling and aligns with best practice guidelines and evidence based practice.

Some cancers and their treatment may cause changes to bladder, bowel, sexual function and pelvic floor muscles in both men and women. Our specialist physiotherapists can assist you with these concerns and treat and strengthen your pelvic floor.

Our dieticians can provide advice on optimal 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. A face-to-face consultation includes a thorough assessment and plan of care to best support you through your cancer experience.

A physiotherapist can provide assessment, treatment and prescription and progression of exercises. They offer advice for musculoskeletal, mobility, functional decline and pain issues due to cancer or its treatment and can assess you before surgery and help with post-operative exercises and advice.

With the aim to enable people to participate in activities of daily life, occupational therapists can assist with and provide advice about fatigue (including graded work return), energy conservation, and mindfulness and relaxation techniques. They can suggest and source equipment to assist you with daily tasks and independence and can perform a home visit to make recommendations for home modifications if required.

Speech pathologists specialise in the assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties. Our speech pathologists can provide assistance with issues that may arise as a result of cancer and its treatment including dry mouth, speaking, swallowing, voice restoration or cognitive rehabilitation.

An exercise physiologist can screen and assess your cardiovascular capacity, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and general function and can assist with fatigue management and energy conservation strategies. They are adapt at goal setting and enabling patients to meet those goals and keep active by setting up tailored programs to meet patients’ individual needs.

To make a booking please contact ACCESS on

• T: (03) 9508 1700
• F: (03) 9508 1455
• E: access@cabrini.com.au

There may be costs associated with some services/programs. Rebates may be available through your private health insurance or ask your GP about a chronic disease management plan.

Managing Cancer Workshops empower those affected by cancer who have been recently diagnosed and are undergoing oncology treatments. Education sessions on topics such as cancer treatments and side effects, communicating with family and friends, building relationships with a healthcare team, relaxation strategies and nutrition and exercise during treatment are addressed. The program provides participants with useful skills, validated resources, knowledge around where to find relevant information and the opportunity to connect with others. This workshop is run by trained day oncology nursing facilitators with support from specialised speakers and Cancer Council Victoria.

The Cancer Wellness Program empowers people to improve their health and wellbeing as they move from clinical treatment to recovery and wellness. Research indicates that group-based cancer education programs can help build resilience and increase the capacity to self-manage health and wellbeing. This program covers topics such as adjusting to physical and emotional changes after cancer treatment, adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours, returning to work and managing the financial impacts of cancer and provides strategies that assist with supported self-management. This program is run by trained day oncology nursing facilitators with support from specialised speakers and Cancer Council Victoria.

For all enquiries, please talk with your day oncology nursing staff.

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

This service is run by volunteers and is supported by qualified hairdressers from a number of local hair salons.

The Cabrini Wig Room has a wonderful variety of wigs for our clients to choose from . The Wig Room is open Tuesday afternoons in the Cabrini Cancer Exercise and Wellness Centre at Cabrini Malvern. Bookings are essential and can be made by calling (03) 9508 1840 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

The Cabrini Pastoral Care Team offers weekly mindfulness meditation sessions at Brighton or Malvern  These sessions are open to anyone and don’t require a booking.

Brighton Chapel
Wednesdays 2 pm

Malvern Chapel
Fridays 1.45 pm

For enquiries on our Mindfulness Meditation Program please contact us on (03) 9508 1222 or email pastoralbereavementservices@cabrini.com.au

This support group is aimed at empowering participants with information and support to improve the way they live with brain cancer.

T: 0427 586 443 | E: neurooncology@cabrini.com.au

This support group provides patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer the opportunity to connect with each other and share their experiences.

T: (03) 9508 5568 | E: breastcancercare@cabrini.com.au

We require a referral for our oncology rehabilitation programs and lymphoedema services. Bookings can be made by calling Access on (03) 9508 1700.

Call our access team on 9508 1700 or email: access@cabrini.com.au.

Your appointment involves exercising, so please wear comfortable clothing, supportive shoes and drink bottle.

The Exercise and Wellness Centre is located on the ground floor, on the Isabella Street entrance, north of the Gandel wing. If you need directions, please ask staff at the main reception desk.

We are offering six free relaxation classes, and six free mindfulness classes and yoga classes are to come.

Please book in to attend.