Peggy Titus-Hall
I’m a career coach and consultant. I love gardening, photography, and recently I started quilting. I am preparing for my scuba diving certification at 62! I am also a breast cancer survivor. I had negative breast biopsies in the past, but during my last biopsy I had a feeling things were different. After multiple biopsies and clinical tests I received a stage 2 cancer diagnosis. I consulted a close friend who is also a breast surgeon, and opted for a bilateral mastectomy with expanders for reconstruction.
After surgery the discomfort seemed intolerable. A colleague as well as friends recommended TurningPoint. My left arm was virtually immobile from the lymph node removal. Being left handed, I was terrified that I would continue to have limited use of my arm. Upon arrival at TurningPoint I was greeted with warmth and kindness. The TurningPoint therapists helped me gain range of motion and strength. The therapy went far beyond the physical. Everyone at TurningPoint provided emotional support. All the clinicians who worked with me had been through their own journeys with breast cancer, or journeys with family members or close friends, so they were well aware of all the “stuff” that comes with the diagnosis, surgery, and recovery. During chemotherapy I wasn’t sure about the best things to eat. The side effects were tough and I couldn’t taste anything, I was at a loss. I met with the Dietitian at TurningPoint and she was a great help.
On Facebook, I saw this quote: “You learn two things when you receive a diagnosis of cancer. The first is how much you are loved, and the second is how strong you are.” My advice to anyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer is to fully accept the love and support that everyone offers. I also urge you to talk about your journey to those who will listen—and many will. Cancer changes your life. Talking about your experience is a great form of therapy. So when people ask, let them know how you feel.
When you’re ready for physical therapy and support, go to TurningPoint. Don’t wait for your physicians to recommend it. Tell them you want and need physical therapy and get the referral. My doctors were wonderful and among the best around, but it was the women who went through the TurningPoint experience that urged me to be a serious participant in my recovery. TurningPoint was and continues to be a huge part of that.
TurningPoint is a warm and wonderful place. It is like an oasis in a huge desert of doctors, surgeries, needles and tests. The work they do is ground-breaking, and it will have a significant impact on your recovery.
