Hospital da Luz Coimbra has hold, on June 16, the session “Living better after cancer”, an initiative open to the community and designed to promote the quality of life of people facing or having faced oncologic disease. The event counted with the participation of author Marine Antunes, founder of the project “Cancer with humour”, who has shared her testimony and crucial reflections on the importance of attitude, resilience and welfare all along the oncologic journey. The diagnosis of cancer continues to have deep impact on the life of patients and respective families. However, advances in medicine, therapeutic innovation, and multidisciplinary follow-up, make it possible today not only to improve clinical results, but also to promote better quality of life during and after treatment. During the session, Hospital da Luz Coimbra health professionals – in the areas of nutrition, physiotherapy, and dermo-aesthetics – and guests talked about the multidisciplinary follow-up multiple aspects of the individual with cancer, reinforcing the importance of an integrated approach before, during and after treatment. The program has included presentations on nutrition as an ally in the fight against cancer, and physical exercise in mammary oncology – clearly demonstrating the importance of nutrition and physical activity during treatment and recovery. Other topics were debated, namely body image and quality of life, skin toxicities support and management care, with evidence for approaches promoting welfare, self-esteem, and better management of the adverse effects of treatment. Rui Duarte (physiotherapy coordinator at Hospital da Luz Coimbra and Clínica da Gala in Figueira da Foz), Pedro Caeiro (personal trainer), Marine Antunes, and Carla Mendes (dermo-aesthetic technician at Hospital da Luz Coimbra). Hospital da Luz Coimbra thanks all health professionals, speakers, and participants in this initiative, who have helped us meeting the goals established: the creation of a space of information, sharing, and reflection on the challenges and opportunities of oncologic survival. And this way we reinforce our commitment to promote health literacy near the community and raise awareness to the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to oncologic disease.
