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.
Patient Perspective: Vivian Diaz Espinosa
Words from Super Woman…. “You have cancer.” Those are three of the most frightening words anyone can hear. Me? What? No…I don’t get sick. I am Super Woman, I take care of everyone. My kids are so young, 10 and twin 6 year-olds. What if it spreads? After lots of MRI’s, scans and biopsies on my right breast, in addition to those on my left breast where the tumor was originally found, the right breast cleared. OK, good! On April 28, 2014, I underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. The results of the pathology test showed 2 areas of cancer in the left breast and one in the right breast too! What can I say, I am a bit of an over-achiever. Thank God I stuck to my guns and had a double mastectomy, despite the fact that the variety of breast cancers I had were all Stage I and with very good prognoses. A few months after my surgery, I was referred by my doctor to TurningPoint for physical therapy. I had heard many good things about TurningPoint from my cousin, who had breast cancer a few years before, but it wasn’t until I experienced it for myself that I realized TurningPoint is more than just physical therapy; it’s mind, body and soul therapy, https://neurofitnessfoundation.org/xanax-alprazolam/. You meet and talk to many women with various forms of breast cancer–women who are patients and also women who work there. They get your pain. They understand your fears, and were able to explain so much to me, because many of them have been there. At one point I was feeling guilty… I felt guilty that my cancer was not as bad as others, yet I felt scared, and lost. What right did I have to feel like that? My physical therapist noticed that I was a little down, and asked what was wrong. My mouth betrayed me, and told her everything. She very firmly and lovingly told me “Don’t minimize your cancer. You have every right to feel scared and lost; everyone’s cancer journey is different, but just as scary.” I will never forget her words. TurningPoint did not just provide physical therapy, but a safe haven where I could share my feelings, ask all my crazy questions without any judgment, and learn how my body was healing. I am grateful for all the support these ladies have given me during that very vulnerable time. There really aren’t enough words to express how lucky I am to have found a new family at TurningPoint where even a super woman like me can feel totally comfortable leaving her cape at the door.
May Patient Perspective
Lynn Stoudt It was still a very surreal moment when I was told that I had breast cancer, despite having multiple biopsies over the past 20 years. The next 6 weeks I was overwhelmed with appointments, procedures and decisions about my treatment plan and surgeon while still trying to function at work and home. I was incredibly fortunate to have family, friends, neighbors and colleagues that supported me in so many ways – meals, calls, cards, surprise packages, flowers, and visits. My daughter from San Francisco flew home to help. Among my siblings, I have a set of younger twin sisters who really stepped up with a game plan to give me something to look forward to upon completion of every stage of the process, including trips to the beach and Disneyland. Post-surgery, I had a lot of difficulty with range of motion and pain. While I had excellent treatment and care from my surgeon and health care providers, this did not seem to be a focus, and I assumed it was the “new normal”. At my last follow up, I expressed frustration with this to my surgeon, and he referred me for Physical Therapy. Having had PT for frozen shoulders before, I was skeptical as I was already trying some of those exercises without success – but my sister who is a Physical Therapist in Alabama suggested researching PT specialties – and I was incredibly fortunate to find TurningPoint. I sent her the link along with a couple of others that were closer to home, and she was very impressed with TurningPoint’s experience and focus and insisted this was the place to be! I am so grateful for the treatment and encouragement I have received from everyone at TurningPoint, but especially my PT team of Anita and Lauren. They always know exactly what to do to keep me progressing along. Now, instead of constant pain, I have infrequent pain, and I know what stretches to perform to get fast improvement. My range of motion is so much better that I no longer feel limited in daily activities. I actually feel stronger now than before I was diagnosed because I am actively focused on stretching and strengthening. I am able to enjoy life more because I have more energy. With the motivation and preparation of my TurningPoint team and my athletic and competitive (unlike me) twin sisters, I completed a 5K in January. My sisters’ first 15K of 2015 was the Hot Chocolate Race in Atlanta – given that I love chocolate, and the reward at the end of the race is a mug of hot chocolate, and a bowl of chocolate fondue with various items to dip in it – I figured what better event for me to try to participate in, and signed up for the 5K. We had a lot of fun preparing for the event and I was able to stay on the required pace of 15 minute miles – and in fact was by no means the last one to finish! I also took my first yoga class recently and am looking forward to practicing weekly! Through the motivation and success of my TurningPoint treatments, I am now enjoying my work-life balance by adding new activities to my schedule. Coming to TurningPoint has literally been a life changer for me!
April Patient Perspective
Karen Hamlin Six years ago, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). I chose full treatment- chemotherapy, bilateral surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy. I exercise, watch my diet, maintain a spiritually positive attitude, and continue to work even since my retirement. However, there are risks and side effects of treatment. At the beginning of last year, I was experiencing serious cramping of chest area muscles and an increase in lymphedema in my arms. My Radiation Oncologist recommended physical therapy at TurningPoint. It has been a pleasant and rewarding experience. The therapists are very positive and cheerful. They have encouraged me to do exercises and massages to reduce muscle cramping in the chest area and increase range of motion in the arms and shoulders. They have a relatively new piece of equipment, a Perometer, to measure lymphedema (swelling) in the arms. This helps me see the improvements I am making through exercise and use of the compression sleeves. It’s all about “know-how”, what I can do on a daily basis to improve my own well-being. TurningPoint has been there guiding me in this process. Thank you TurningPoint! Karen Hamlin, Breast Cancer Survivor
