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.
Nutrition Q&A: Blueberries, the Powerhouse Berry!
It’s July, it’s hot, it’s humid, but look on the bright side, it’s blueberry season. Summertime may mean hot and humid days, but it also means gardens flowing with fresh fruits and vegetables. June-July is peak blueberry season. Blueberries are naturally sweet and provide a wealth of nutritional benefits. Not only are blueberries an excellent source of vitamin C, Vitamin K and manganese, they are a good source of dietary fiber as well. But the nutritional benefits don’t stop there. Blueberries are among the fruits highest in antioxidant power. They also contain numerous phytochemicals, many of which are well studied in the laboratory. Phytochemicals are chemical compounds found naturally in plants and are responsible for giving the plant its color. Phytochemicals have been shown to have cancer fighting properties as well. Blueberries contain several phytochemicals: anthocyanins, catechins, quercetin, kaempferol, Ellagitannins and ellagic acid. Don’t worry, you don’t need to memorize all the names of all those phytochemicals, all you need to know is that blueberries have the potential to lower your risk of certain cancers. Blueberries are a versatile fruit and can be enjoyed hot, cold and in your favorite summertime beverage. Blueberries also freeze well. I encourage you to buy now and freeze for later—a warm blueberry cobbler never tasted so good on a cold winter’s night than made with fresh frozen blueberries. Checkout this recipe for Blueberry Quesadilla.
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.
Evidence Update: Weight Training May Reduce Post-Treatment Decline in Function in Breast Cancer Patients
…Pick Up those Hand Weights! Studies have shown that breast cancer survivors may experience deterioration in their physical function after treatment has ended. In a recent paper, researchers compared the physical function at one year post-treatment in women who had been involved in a year-long weight training program, compared to survivors who had not. The original study included 295 breast cancer survivors who did not have metastatic breast cancer and showed that weight training is safe for breast cancer survivors and may even reduce their risk of developing lymphedema. Participants were randomly allocated to either twice-per-week slowly progressive strengthening/weight training or standard care that did not include weight training. In this recent paper, researchers did further analysis to examine the extent to which participants’ physical function deteriorated over the year. They found a significant reduction in the proportion of women who experienced reduction in physical function in the weight training group. Specifically, in the group that did weight training, 8% of the women experienced deterioration and in the usual care group 16% deteriorated in physical function. It appears that slowly progressive weight training may help to reduce the incidence of physical function deterioration among survivors of breast cancer. Future studies are needed to see if this is the case for other forms of exercise, such as brisk walking. In addition to reducing our risk of breast cancer recurrence and lymphedema, exercise may help breast cancer survivors avoid the deterioration in physical function that so many women experience. TurningPoint physical therapists can help you establish a regular exercise program that includes cardiovascular, weight training and flexibility components. Brown JC et al. Weight Lifting and Physical Function Among Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2015 May 11. pii: JCO.2014.57.7395. [Epub ahead of print]
