What's Really Working?

27th September 2025
The Light Auditorium
Friends House
London, UK

08.30 to 18.00
BST UK time

Doors Open: Registration

08.30 - 09.00 BST
Registration


Time to visit the Exhibition

Conference Introduction

09.00 - 09.10 BST
Robin Daly MBE
Robin introduces the day, what its intention is, and what and who we have in store in the programme, along with the important practicalities of the event

The Subtle but Essential Foundations of Survivorship

09.10 - 09.30 BST
Dr Sam Watts
When we think about integrative cancer survivorship, we almost unilaterally focus on the "things" we do, such as dietary modification, exercise, sleep optimisation, herbal medicines and much else besides. All of these more commonly utilised pillars of cancer survivorship are essential. But in and of themselves, they are not enough. We need to put equal emphasis not just on the "things" we do, but on the "person" actually doing them. How can the body mobilise its fullest and most profound healing pathways when the truest nature of any given individual is poorly understood; what gives their life purpose, passion and meaning, what fills their life with awe and wonder and ultimately how they engineer a life that is so deeply congruent with their deepest values and beliefs that healing becomes not something we do, but something we become.

The Healthy Side-Effects of Kindness

09.30 - 10.30 BST
Dr David Hamilton
David will share how kindness impacts mental and physical health. You'll learn how being kind can impact the brain, reduce blood pressure, support the immune system, how it can slow ageing, and even how it's contagious.

TBC

10.30 - 11.10 BST
TBC
Session description coming soon

Refreshment Break

11.10 - 11.40 BST
Tea, coffee, snacks etc


Time to visit the Exhibition

Longevity is Not Free; it Must be Earned

11.40 - 12.40 BST
Leo Pruimboom
Evolution prioritises reproduction rather than long-term survival, meaning longevity was never part of the evolutionary plan. Yet humans have sought long, healthy lives since the emergence of consciousness and language. Much of today’s longevity research draws on Blue Zone observations, but those environments no longer exist. Individuals who lived or live beyond one hundred years were born into worlds largely free of modern toxic exposures. Toxins do not add years to life; they subtract them.

The brain regions most central to spirituality, emotional regulation, and bonding are also the most vulnerable to this toxic burden, increasing the risk of chronic neuroinflammation and its psychological consequences. Rather than relying on slow genetic adaptation, we must develop strategies that allow faster adaptation to the modern world.

Breath as Medicine: Restoring Calm, Energy & Resilience Through and After Cancer

12.40 - 13.00 BST
Sophie Trew
When navigating cancer-both through treatment and in the months and years that follow, the body and mind often need support to recover from prolonged stress. In this talk, Sophie shares the science of breathwork, meditation and how gentle breath-based practices can help restore calm, rebuild energy and strengthen resilience. Drawing on lived experience and integrative mind-body science, she will offer practical tools and a short guided breathing practice that attendees can take home with them.

Lunch Interval

13.00 - 14.30 BST
Lunch


Time to visit the Exhibition

Please Note: There is an optional Breathwork Workshop for the last half hour of the lunch break

Breath as Medicine: A Guided Practice for Calm, Energy & Emotional Renewal

14.00 - 14.30 BST
Sophie Trew
This experiential session invites participants to explore breath as a powerful, accessible tool for rebuilding calm and energy through and after cancer. Through gentle guided breathing, meditation and grounding practices, Sophie will support attendees in reconnecting with their body, calming the stress response, reducing anxiety and cultivating resilience. Participants will leave with simple, effective practices they can integrate into daily life.

Reclaiming Our True Nature Through Network Sufficiency

14.30 - 15.30 BST
James Maskell
Chronic disease isn’t just a failure of organs or chemistry, it’s a failure of connection. From psychosocial health to conditions like Alzheimer’s, the emerging truth is this: when our biological, emotional, and social networks break down, disease takes root. In this keynote, James Maskell explores a bold new lens "network sufficiency" revealing how the body heals by restoring connection at every level. Drawing from functional medicine, group-based care, and innovative new tools from across the medication spectrum, he shows how rebuilding our internal and external networks isn’t just good medicine… it’s how we reclaim who we really are.

TBC

15.30 - 16.00 BST
TBC
Session description coming soon

Refreshment Break

16.00 - 16.30 BST
Tea, coffee, snacks etc


Time to visit the Exhibition

EXCEPTIONAL SURVIVORSHIP PANEL

16.30 - 17.30 BST
Led by Dr Sam Watts
Dr Sam Watts facilitates a panel session in which each of the members will reflect on their own experience of the effects of giving their attention to the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of wellbeing, after which questions will be invited from the audience.

What have we learnt today?

17.30- 17.45 BST
Dr Sam Watts
Dr Sam Watts summarises the key take-aways from the day’s presentations and next steps.

Summary And Close

17.45- 18.00 BST
Robin Daly MBE
Robin spotlights some of the resources of Yes to Life and the ways in which you can interact to get support, and brings the Conference to a close
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Refunds Policy
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Disclaimer
The information and content provided on these pages and in the programme are intended for information and educational purposes only and not to substitute for professional medical advice. The 1939 Cancer Act states that cancer treatment and treatment advice can only be provided by qualified medical professionals. Yes to Life charity does not consider that any of the information, made available in the conference programmes or on the website, will treat or cure cancer. Always seek qualified medical advice before making any changes to your conventional treatment plans.