Patient Perspective: Leslie Young
I will never forget the day that I received the news that no one ever wants to hear. It was October 15, 2013 when my biopsy results confirmed that I had breast cancer in both breasts. Having been very diligent about my annual mammograms and with no family history of breast cancer, my husband, two children and I were all very shocked. After the primary surgery, I was experiencing extreme muscle tightness, cording, and a very limited range of motion. I had been an avid tennis player and enjoyed working out on a regular basis, so I was feeling very debilitated. When I mentioned the discomfort to my plastic surgeon at a post-op visit, he immediately referred me to TurningPoint, where I quickly learned that I was having a very “normal” post surgery experience which put my mind at ease. Although it was not always easy to describe exactly what was bothering me, my physical therapists could always relate to what I was experiencing and knew exactly what to do for it. Between the therapy that I received at TurningPoint and the additional stretching exercises they gave me to do on my own, I began to notice an enormous change in how I felt. Feeling physically stronger enabled me to exercise more frequently and this, in turn, helped ease some of the emotions I was dealing with as well. TurningPoint has been life changing! Because of the radiation and multiple surgeries that I have had, I have spent quite a bit of time at TurningPoint over the past year and a half, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this organization. Their encouragement, support, and knowledge have been instrumental in helping me get back to my normal routines again. I continue to exercise and do the recommended strengthening activities to build my stamina back up to where it was, and I am finally feeling confident that I will be back out on the tennis courts before too long! I have received nothing but wonderful and professional care by the TurningPoint staff. I have also been blessed with their friendships, smiles, and positive attitudes—all of which have elevated my physical and emotional well-being! I cannot thank these compassionate women enough for all that they have done for me throughout my journey. Although I would never wish a cancer diagnosis on anyone, I will be forever thankful for the TurningPoint family that I have bonded with along the way, due to my diagnosis.
Patient Perspective: Mary Kay Griffith
Hi! My name is Mary Kay and this month (September) will be my third year as a breast cancer fighter and survivor. WOW! I am so very blessed to able to say that! I went for my annual mammogram and ultrasound in August 2012. It was there that my doctor found “something” on the ultrasound and wanted to schedule a biopsy. This did not alarm me because I had several biopsies in the past and none of them turned out to be troublesome. But then, on 9/11/12, life as I knew it came to a screeching halt. I received the call from my doctor herself, telling me I had infiltrating ductal carcinoma. While feeling my head spinning, hands shaking, knees getting weak, and my heart in my throat–I was in fight or flight mode! To me there was no choice–fight, fight, fight! I am a single parent with much life yet to experience with my son, so there was NO WAY cancer was going to get the best of me! My plan of attack consisted of a bilateral mastectomy with free-tram flap reconstruction, eight rounds of chemo, and 28 days of radiation. And I have had two more reconstructive surgeries in the past year and a half. Through it all, I have had an amazing support system of family, friends, and even people that I didn’t know who came from my friend’s church to bring us meals. I have also had an amazing team of surgeons, oncologists, and physical therapists, http://www.papsociety.org/xanax-alprazolam-1-mg/. During my post op exam, my doctor was telling me about lymphedema and what to look out for. She told me if I ever had any concerns to “go see those girls at TurningPoint. They know what they are doing and they are the best at it”. And she was spot on with her advice to me. I began having range of motion issues and tightness in my arm almost a year after surgery. As a pre-school teacher, I needed all the function and strength I could muster to keep up with my class! I recalled the doctor’s enthusiastic referral to TurningPoint and I called without delay. That was about a year and a half ago and I have been with team Lauren and Anita ever since! They have truly made a difference in my life and how I am healing through their knowledge, compassion, and true concern with what I am going through. I am very grateful for Lauren, Anita, and everyone who makes TurningPoint what it is–a place to help me heal, a place where I feel comfortable, confident, and understood. As I said earlier, I am blessed to be alive, but I most certainly did not get where I am all on my own–I had a lot of help along the way, for which I will be eternally grateful. It DOES take a village! Peace and love to all those who are fighting, surviving, and to those who are helping make it all happen!
Patient Perspective: Vicki Furmanek
It’s pretty unusual to meet a breast cancer survivor who doesn’t remember the exact details of receiving her diagnosis. Mine was on February 27, 2013 at 1:43 in the afternoon. I’ve since been told that the sequence of 1,4,3 means I Love You (based on the number of letters in the words). And believe me, you need a message like that to go along with the emotional wallop associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. At the time, I was working full time in my profession as a hair stylist. Little did I know I would face 7 surgeries, 16 rounds of chemo and 28 radiation treatments. I also tested positive for the breast cancer gene, which prompted my hysterectomy along the way. After the first surgery, I found that I was experiencing limitations in raising my arms, felt like I was in a too-tight scuba suit and experienced reduced overall stamina, but I didn’t know if that was normal or not. Within a one week period, I heard about TurningPoint from a friend and then from a doctor, and realized there was somewhere to go for help. What I didn’t know at the time was how bad my posture was and how much help I really needed. TurningPoint has changed my life. I didn’t know what normal was before I came to TurningPoint or how badly I needed physical therapy. I have received encouragement, information, tips and an overwhelming amount of support from everyone I have encountered in my Physical Therapy, Counseling and Massage care. I plan to meet with the TP Dietitian soon to learn some tips on nutrition. The Financial Assistance program has enabled me to get the help that I need, because in my profession, I don’t have medical insurance. I don’t have the words to express how much TurningPoint has given me. I hope to be able to give back in gratitude for what I have received.
Evidence Update: Report from the National Institute of Health Oncology Rehabilitation Symposium
The National Institute of Health (NIH) convened a meeting of research experts in the field of cancer rehabilitation at the NIH in Bethesda, MD in June. The purpose of this rehabilitation symposium was to disseminate the findings of an expert group comprised of clinical and research NIH Staff, and nationally recognized experts in cancer rehabilitation practice in the United States. The conference presented current practice models in cancer rehabilitation, identified evidence and practical considerations for the use of clinical, functional measurement tools and discussed clinical integration of rehabilitation services into the oncology continuum of care and survivorship. Jill Binkley, TurningPoint’s Executive Director, attended the meeting, along with other rehabilitation professionals with an interest in oncology rehabilitation, oncology professionals and other stakeholders who interact with the cancer population including professional organizations and societies, patient advocacy groups, accreditation bodies, federal and state government agencies. Presentations and discussion focused on practical issues and challenges faced with integrating rehabilitation services into cancer care. While many models of care were outlined, it was generally agreed that access to rehabilitation for cancer patients continues to be the exception, rather than the rule in the United States. TurningPoint is a model of integrated, community-based rehabilitation and offers a local solution to this national problem. In a non-profit model such as ours, barriers to care are reduced by offering unique accessibility through financial assistance, complimentary programs, outreach to inner city and minority women and Spanish translation. We are proud to exemplify a successful model of care that is one way of addressing the national challenge of providing rehabilitation care for oncology patients.
