Israel Cancer Association - Annual Report 2024

ICA 'Steps to a Healthy Life'® Project 'Steps to a Healthy Life'® project has been operating nationally for the past 17 years. Its goal is to expose people who have suffered from cancer – adults, children, and their loved ones – to the health benefits of physical activity, encourage structured physical activity as part of one’s everyday routine, and provide professional advice to those who opt to participate in the project. The program includes group training by licensed physiotherapists. The program runs in the oncology and hematology array in 22 medical centers across Israel, as well as in some gyno-oncology and radiation departments, with over 10,000 patients participating in it this year. Barzilai Medical Center also runs an aquatic fitness activity in its rehabilitation center swimming pool – a special program as part of this project. The ‘Steps to a Healthy Life’® project is managed and run by MSW Orit Spira , the ICA Rehabilitation and Support Department Director, RN Rina Dikhel , an oncology nurse and clinical expert in palliative care at the ICA, and RN Livia Kislev , ICA Head Nurse. The professional authority in charge of the ‘Steps to a Healthy Life®’ project and ICA advisor on a voluntary basis is Prof. Naama Constantini , an expert in family and sports medicine and Director of the Sports Medicine Center, Shaare Tzedek Medical Center. ICA 'Survivors towards a Healthy Life' ® Workshops This workshop includes six sessions aimed at improving survivors and their families' quality of life, guide them in adopting healthy habits and support them in returning to a full, active life. The activity is designed for patients, survivors and their families, and is free of charge. The workshop includes lectures on the following topics: • Coping with side effects of the oncology treatments • Proper diet after coping with cancer • Intimacy and sexuality

provide beauty and make up trainings by the brand's makeup artists at ICA branches on a voluntary basis. Linda Yadai from our rehabilitation and Support Dept., collects donated cosmetics and accessories from beauty suppliers as well as other vendors as complimentary gifts for patients. Wig Service Another important service is lending free wigs to patients. Complementary wig fitting centers are located at the ICA headquarters in Givatayim, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, at Nazareth Towers Medical Center and at the ICA branches in Dimona, Haifa, Jerusalem, Beer Sheba, Ashdod, Kfar Saba, Netanya, Bat-Yam, Karmiel, Kiryat Motzkin and Migdal Haemek. Any oncology patient can receive a wig and/or have a wig treated free of charge, with no need of security payment or any other condition.

The project coordinator, Linda Yadai , raised hundreds of wigs for the project. The wigs donated to the ICA are treated and organized by the department team. Rivka Zehavi Wigs assists in fitting and treating as well as donating the wigs.

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