National and Regional Conferences Feature TurningPoint Experts
An important part of TurningPoint’s mission is to advocate for specialized rehabilitation care for all women with breast cancer. TurningPoint is heavily involved in educating the health care community locally and nationally about the role of rehabilitation and exercise for women with breast cancer. In September, Jill Binkley and Cathy Furbish, TurningPoint Physical Therapists, presented at the National Lymphedema Network’s International Conference in Washington, DC. Over 400 rehabilitation and healthcare professionals were at the conference. Jill presented the results of a collaborative research project between TurningPoint, the Avon Breast Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and Emory University. The intent of the project was to provide early rehabilitation intervention for underserved inner-city and minority women with breast cancer. Cathy presented TurningPoint’s model of evidence-based lymphedema care. The model includes early detection, patient education and, for women who develop lymphedema, a scientifically management strategy. Lauren Bober, TurningPoint Physical Therapist and Pilates Instructor, spoke at the Conference of Cancer Patient Navigators of Georgia about the Role of Physical Rehabilitation and Exercise for Cancer Patients. Lauren discussed early intervention, the benefits and importance of exercise for cancer survivors, the current recommendations for the frequency and duration and types of exercise for individuals with different types of cancers and gave recommendations on how to get patients involved with exercise.
October Patient Perspective
Leah Green I first felt a lump in my left breast in October of 2013 at 41 years old. In February 2014 I was told that I had Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma—the big “C” word no one wants to hear. Nine agonizing weeks after my diagnosis and after forming the best team of doctors for me, I was wheeled into the OR at Northside Hospital for both a bilateral mastectomy and part one of the reconstruction surgery. In May, 2014 my Oncologist explained that an Oncotype DX test came back showing a high probability of the breast cancer returning. I started a 12-week round of chemo on June 5th to take care of any lingering cancer cells. I was told it would take 6-weeks to recover from my surgery with the first 2 weeks being the roughest part. I started physical therapy at TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation three weeks post-surgery. Having a full time job, an active family and 9-year old at home, I was very anxious to be able to move my arms and body again. My appointments at TurningPoint are now some of my favorite days of the week. The compassion and total understanding of my circumstance that I receive from my therapists are not only helping me with my pain but also making me a stronger woman. I have been fortunate to meet others going through their own cancer journeys in the waiting room… a sisterhood of strangers I will never forget. Everyone on the staff has welcomed me and remembered my name. I have worked hard at home and recently have been able to participate in a weekly Pilate’s class TurningPoint offers as a complimentary service to its clients. It is hard to believe that it has only been a little over 4 months since my surgery. I cannot thank TurningPoint enough for welcoming me into their family, listening to me when times are tough, and training me to be the strongest I can be today. I still have hurdles to overcome but I have watched what my body can do over this time and know that I will be stronger on the other side of all of this. I am blessed with good friends and family who have rallied around me and I am looking forward to a full recovery. Although I was initially shocked about my diagnosis I know that I will keep my head high and put all my trust in God. I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason and if my journey can help just one person then a pivotal purpose has been served. Winston Churchill said that “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”…with that I cheer, look high, and look forward with the most positive attitude which can hopefully be encouragement to others.
TurningPoint featured on Focus Atlanta
Focus Atlanta joined in the fight against Breast Cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month! We teamed up with representatives from Turning Point and the Susan G Komen Foundation of Atlanta, so that we could inform our viewers of statistics and prevention when dealing with Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness from Keisha Lancelin on Vimeo.
Q&A with TurningPoint’s Jill Binkley on AJC.com
Sunday Conversation with … Jill Binkley 12:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 | Filed in: Local News A decade ago, Jill Binkley, a physical therapist, started TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, a nonprofit offering rehab services for women being treated for breast cancer. Binkley understood the enormous need for such services because she had undergone treatment for the disease herself. She also concluded that TurningPoint not only would focus on the physical side effects accompanying surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, but also would offer counseling, dietary and massage services. “I learned about and experienced many of the physical and emotional side effects of treatment that I was not aware of even though I was in the health care profession,” said Binkley, executive director of TurningPoint on Roswell Road in Atlanta. “That started me thinking, ‘Did other women have these issues as well?’” Many did and still do since one in eight women gets breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. October, which is breast cancer awareness month, is a time to celebrate advances in treating the disease. It also is a good time, Binkley says, to advocate for rehab services for the many women who suffer from the very treatments that save their lives. For more infirmation, go to myturningpoint.org. Q: What are specific physical side effects of breast cancer treatment? A: We often see pain in the shoulder and chest wall, reduced range of motion and difficulty with function such as reaching overhead, even lifting your baby. Lymphedema, which is swelling of the arm, is a chronic condition that affects about 20 percent of breast cancer patients. I am one of them. Q: What about emotional side effects? A: The biggest is the fear of dying and ongoing illness. Body image and sexuality follow, whether you have had reconstructive surgery or not. When you can help women feel better, that is a huge emotional boost. Q: You take a holistic approach to rehab? A: We try to take care of the whole woman. We have physical therapists. We also have a counselor, massage therapist and dietician on staff. Our clinicians work together in a comprehensive manner to help women through complex issues. Q: Has care for women improved since you were diagnosed? A: We absolutely have made some strides. When I got breast cancer, no one talked about the importance of exercise, which decreases the risk of a recurrence and is something we emphasize a lot at TurningPoint. The fact that doctors refer 30 new women a month to us means that they realize the importance of the care we provide. But, that is still just the tip of the iceberg. Q: Do other women just suffer silently? A: They don’t want to complain to the person who saved their lives. Just having a place like TurningPoint lets women know these side effects are typical and that it’s okay to seek help for them. Q: Why is your practice a nonprofit? A: We don’t turn any woman away. We do bill health insurance for our physical therapy services. We do get some large grants. If women need financial assistance, they get it. Q: Is working with breast cancer clients hard for you given your history? A: Whether you are a survivor or not, working with women with breast cancer has an amazing emotional impact on all of our staff in a very positive way. We get to know our women very well and that can be a very difficult because we lose some of them. The rewards definitely outweigh those very sad times. Q: Do you still worry about a recurrence 10 years later? A: The more minutes, the more days, the more months, the more years you live, the less chance you have of a recurrence and the less breast cancer is front and center of what you think every day. You can never say never. That is something you somehow learn to live with. The Sunday Conversation is edited for length and clarity. Writer Ann Hardie can be reached by email at [email protected]. Read the article online here.
