January Patient Perspective
Wynetta Scott-Simmons I have always enjoyed learning; possessed a healthy thirst for the power of and comfort found in knowledge. That thirst led me to enroll in an elective high school class that explored world religions. It was in that class that I was introduced to the concept of karma. As a result of my teenager-framed interpretation of this life view, during those formative years, and in fear of upsetting the balance of my personal life continuum, I have worked to live by a religious-based moral compass and have also been a self-proclaimed rule follower ever since. Anyone who knows me will tell you that my life mantra is – Carpe Diem! But do no harm – live smart, live honorably, live fully present, live healthy, and ultimately live happy; chief among these has always been an endeavor to live healthy. Each year I scheduled my annual physical to occur on or near my birthday, as a symbolic gift and proof of my smart and healthy living. My 56th year was no exception. My life, to that point, had been a living blueprint of the stay healthy tips promoted by the American Cancer Society; staying at a healthy weight, healthy eating, taking part in an energetic exercise program, not smoking, and establishing a schedule for getting the recommended screening tests. My breast cancer diagnosis knocked me completely off of my balance-attuned orbit. Upon hearing the news I tried unsuccessfully to pinpoint the exact life action that had caused this disruption in my karma, in my life balance. My doctor, of sixteen years, unable to find the appropriate words with which to convey the test results had resorted to medical terms. Poorly differentiated carcinoma?! I understood each word individually. Spoken together in a medical context they made little sense. They made even less sense when applied to me; the rule follower, the life lived in balance. Poorly differentiated carcinoma?! Infiltrating ductal carcinoma?! Triple negative?! 3.3 centimeters?! The literacy professor in me tried desperately to tie each word to some pre-existing knowledge, some schema which might lead to a deeper level of enlightenment. However, in those first days following receipt of my diagnosis, balance had been destroyed and no karma-justified meaning, no understanding, no clarity, no comprehension was forthcoming. My mind did, however, instantly make connections between the news of this diagnosis and a host of possible ramifications for my immediate family – for my husband and our two daughters. In those first days post diagnosis and without full understanding of the specifics of my unique cancer profile I wondered just how many more momentous life events we would all witness together – birthdays, vacations, promotions, anniversaries, weddings and grandchildren. The triple negative nature of my diagnosis and size of my tumor added a sense of urgency to my need to begin a treatment plan. While still struggling to make sense of the news of my diagnosis, I resorted to the comfortable process of searching for knowledge. We researched the unfamiliar medical terms listed in every line of my diagnosis paperwork. We systematically collected referrals, read references, poured over evaluations, visited, interviewed, and made critical decisions about oncologists, surgeons, and plastic surgeons, and hospitals. The movie-reel version of my life, during that period, seemed to progress at a frenetic and chaotic pace, while simultaneously moving at a deliberate and measured pace. We know now that a divine hand was at work in bypassing waitlists, opening appointment doors, and ultimately assembling a team that would save my life; my dream team. Carpe Diem became my team’s battle cry and it helped me to focus on waging war against this uninvited infiltrating force! My assembled team – a renowned oncologist, celebrated surgeon and plastic surgeon, respected radiologist, phenomenal group of oncology and radiation nurses, my family, and a host of friends helped me to successfully conquer sixteen weeks of chemotherapy, vena cava filter placement surgery, six weeks of daily radiation treatments, bilateral mastectomy surgery, tissue reconstruction and expander insertion surgery, skin graph surgery, http://www.papsociety.org/accutane-isotretinoin/ and the final implant transfer and nipple construction surgery. Even after waging a successful fight to rid my body of the abnormally fast-growing cancer cells, my karma-tic turmoil had yet to settle. A new diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) triggered a referral to TurningPoint. This medical diagnosis proved to be a pivotal moment in the process of rebuilding and adding to my life rather than the cancer diagnosis that had resulted in the process of breaking down and subtracting from my life. The individualized and focused care provided by the therapists at TurningPoint was specific to my particular and unique bodily needs as a breast cancer survivor and post-mastectomy patient. The therapists were committed to increasing my shoulder range of motion. They also validated my questions, affirmed my suspicions, and allayed my concerns, while arming me with the informational tools necessary to serve as my own self-advocate. With each session I began to regain my confidence. Everyone at TurningPoint helped me to restore a level of calm, a sense of balance and a renewed sense of positive karma to my life. The information, knowledge, and therapeutic strategies that I received at TurningPoint helped me to see that my new normal need not be one of limited mobility, ability, or possibility. My fighting mantra had been revived. Carpe Diem! – live smart, live honorably, live in the moment, live healthy, and live happy. I will be eternally grateful for the care and support I received at TurningPoint.
Exercise for Breast Cancer Survivors: How much is enough?
Early detection and improved treatments for breast cancer have resulted in better prognosis for patients. A recent review of research related to physical activity and breast cancer confirmed that exercise decreases risk of recurrence, increases quality of life, bone mineral density and strength and decreases fatigue and pain in breast cancer survivors. The study concluded that based on scientific data, breast cancer patients should be recommended to participate in rehabilitation programs including aerobic and strength training.(1) Many breast cancer survivors, however, are not sure how and when to proceed and ‘how much is enough’ exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has exercise guidelines for cancer survivors.(2) The ACSM concluded that exercise training is safe during and after cancer treatments and results in many benefits for the patient. The amount of exercise recommended is 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week and 2 to 3 weekly strength training sessions of the major muscle groups. During the development of a physical activity program, it is important to consider pre-diagnosis fitness level, an understanding of the limitations that may be present due to surgical interventions and treatment of the cancer, and other medical conditions. A program should be tailored to a survivor’s needs, abilities, medical condition and interests. At TurningPoint, the physical therapists will evaluate each patient and their condition and create a program specifically to meet her needs. This can be monitored during treatment at TurningPoint and progressed as the patient regains more strength and flexibility. After discharge, appointments can be made for exercise consultation to review and advance the program as needed. TurningPoint also offers group fitness classes including Yoga and Pilates to help encourage flexibility and strengthening within a safe environment. Evigor S, Kanvilmaz S. Exercise in patients coping with breast cancer: An overview. World J Clin Oncol. August 2014, 10;5(3):406-11. Schmitz, Kathryn H. et al. American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. Med Sci Sports Exer. July 2010, 42;7:1409-1426
November Patient Perspective
Ashley Franks Every pain and suffering in this life has a purpose. I truly believe that you can find hope and peace in any situation through not only family and friends, but God. I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 32 in December of 2013. My husband Matt and I had only been living in the Atlanta area for less than two years. At the time, we had a son Roman (4yr), a daughter Carmen (2yr), and a son Hudson (7 month). If I hadn’t been nursing Hudson, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the tumor as soon as I did. I was all too familiar with cancer. My mother survived ovarian cancer during my high school years and then I lost my father to prostate cancer in 2003. Little did I know, I too would be diagnosed exactly ten years later. My mammogram didn’t even reveal the tumor, but the MRI reflected a scare that Matt and I would never forget. We were led to believe that the cancer had metastasized to my bones. A moment that I will always remember was when my husband took the call with the results of the bone scan revealing that my bones were in fact clean. Matt’s hair was sticking straight up from his hands running through it. His eyes were so teary eyed, and he was shaking, yelling, “It’s clean! Your bones are clean!” I felt a glimpse of hope from that point on. I went through six rounds of chemotherapy throughout the winter of 2014. I went to every single session with a different close friend. I felt hope through holding their hands while the yucky chemo would drip through my veins. Hope was given through the volunteer nurse praying over me each week and cheering me on when I didn’t feel like fighting anymore. My husband not only took on the role as the main caregiver, but he served as a nurse and single parent many days and nights. I remember lying in bed feeling drugged up, half awake, but hearing the screaming cries from my baby, toddler, and preschooler trying to take their evening baths. I simply couldn’t muster the energy to help at times. Things in the home were so crazy to say the least, but God carried us through slowly day by day. Friends brought us food for nine months straight. They prayed for us, watched our children, and loved on us continuously. Hope came through feeling the amount of love poured out by friends and family. We had never experienced so much love and generosity. Testing revealed that my cancer is in fact genetic. I am BRCA2 positive and now live with the burden that there is a 50% chance each of my children will carry the gene as well. The doctors recommended that I have a double mastectomy and also a prophylactic hysterectomy. After the double mastectomy, I was not able to hold my children or even move my arms above shoulder height. I remembered hearing of TurningPoint from the volunteer nurse at my chemotherapy treatments. Within the first physical therapy session, I was able to lift my arms above my head. One moment I will never forget was when the therapist told me that I could start to slowly hold Hudson. I sat in that office just crying tears of joy. I obviously hurried home and picked him up, spinning him around! Sleep is an important part of our lives. Through good sleep we gain energy and are able to function the next day properly. Unfortunately nowdays people lack sleep due to the fast life cycle. Some cant sleep because of stressful day, the others face some problems and this doesn’t let them sleep and have proper rest. All kind of situations influence on our nerve stamens and bother the sleep sleep regime accordingly. Ambien (Zolpidem) at https://holisticdental.org/ambien-treat-insomnia/ is a good means to have a good sleep and feel no negative effects. In February of 2014, around the halfway point of my chemotherapy treatment, a friend came to me saying that God had spoken to her. He said, “I have removed them. I’m serious. Don’t miss that”. I was astonished, but believed in faith that these words were true. I truly believed that I had been healed. Every single ultrasound and scan from that point on showed no cancer. After my double mastectomy in May of 2014, the pathology report reflected a pure 100% pathological response. They could not find one single cancer cell! Matt and I were absolutely amazed and changed by this miracle. God doesn’t promise to heal us forever on earth, but he does promise eternal healing if we put our faith in him. After experiencing something as terrible and scary as cancer, I try to live life to its fullest and be grateful for every single moment I have with my family. We currently live in Cumming, Georgia where I enjoy exercising, cooking homemade organic cancer fighting meals, interior design, and playing with our three children. I believe my cancer was for a purpose and I focus on being a walking light for God.
Local Salute: TurningPoint in Simply Buckhead Magazine
TurningPoint helps survivors live full lives STORY: Mickey Goodman October 9th, 2014 | Local Salute National Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October is a stark reminder that, after diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer remains a beast that needs taming and nurturing. Since 2003, TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, a nonprofit based in Sandy Springs, has helped more than 2,500 women on the road to normalcy. “What sets us apart is our com- prehensive care along with our individualized programs coordinated by primary care physical therapists. They include physical and massage therapy, nutrition and lymphedema management,” says Karen Burpo, community outreach director. Referrals for the program come from medical professionals at hospitals and fellow patients. “When I was referred to TurningPoint, I realized I had about 1 percent of the knowledge I needed,” said Sandy Springs resident Taurus Dotson, a breast cancer survivor. “They got my lymphedema under control and helped with postural issues, legacies of the mastectomy and reconstruction. “The therapists make you feel comfortable and motivate you,” Dotson says. “No self-pity is allowed. But it’s not just work, work, work. They make it fun.” The evidence-based program, a partner with the American Cancer Society, is the only one of its kind in the Southeast. Many staff members, including the director, Jill Binkley, and Burpo, are breast cancer survivors, making them sensitive to the special needs of patients. “Finances are never a barrier to treatment, and health insurance covers some portions,” Burpo says. For more information, visit www.myturningpoint.org Read the article here
