LIFEFIT WELLNESS SERVICES
and the
Keyserling Cancer Center are ofering a
specialized exercise and recovery pro-
gram for breast cancer patients in active
treatment.
“Studies have shown that women under-
going treatment for breast cancer beneft
from participating in some sort of exercise
regimen,” says BMH Oncology Program
Director Connie Duke, RN, OCN. “Surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation are difcult
to recover from, and studies have shown
that women who exercise experience less
nausea and depression from treatment.”
Women who qualify will receive a
complimentary three-month member-
ship to LifeFit Wellness Center, which will
include an appointment with a wellness
specialist covering the patient’s complete
health history, including a lipid panel
worth $100. Te specialist will conduct a
ftness assessment and will create a per-
sonalized exercise prescription.
“Some women may only be able to
tolerate fve or ten minutes of exercise at
the beginning,” says Wellness Specialist
Michelle Calendine. “We will work with
them to help them build up their strength
over time,” she says.
Fighting from the inside
All exercise prescriptions will include the
following, at some level:
Restoring strength and fexibility
to joints and muscle groups that have
become weak and infexible as a result of
surgery. Te focus will be on the shoul-
ders, neck, chest, upper back and rotator
cufs in the initial phase of the program.
Later on, the work will focus on the ab-
dominal muscles, lower back and lower
extremities.
Improving cardiovascular ftness
to help with overall conditioning. Tis
will increase physical stamina for faster
recovery after surgery, and make ongoing
treatments (chemotherapy and radiation)
easier to tolerate.
Minimizing weight gain
or loss, and
improving or maintaining muscle tone,
body composition and bone density dur-
ing and after chemotherapy and radiation
treatments.
For those who cannot use the LifeFit
facilities, the wellness specialist will
tailor an at-home program. Troughout
the three-month period, patients will have
frequent follow-up visits from a wellness
specialist to check on progress and take
measurements. A one-on-one session with
a registered dietitian will be scheduled
for each participant to go over nutritional
needs. All participants will eventually
have the opportunity to take a weekly
“Gentle Yoga/Pilates” class, exclusively for
breast cancer patients and survivors.
Actively fghting cancer
Casting for recovery
Beaufort Memorial will sponsor three Lowcountry women to participate in a breast cancer
survivor’s weekend retreat October 28 through 30. Te program, called “Casting for Recovery,”
ofers free weekend retreats for breast cancer survivors nationwide each year. Started in 1996,
the retreats combine fy-fshing, counseling and medical information. Te motions of fy-fshing
have a therapeutic efect for breast cancer patients, speeding recovery by exercising the soft
muscle tissue damaged by radiation and/or surgery. Tis year, Casting for Recovery is providing
47 retreats in 33 states. Te one in our area will be held at Bray’s Island.
Connie Duke, RN, OCN, director of BMH’s Oncology Program, has been trained and will serve as a medical facilitator at the
Bray’s Island retreat. For more information, contact Starr Nolan, MSW, regional program director, at
828-215-4234
, or apply
online at
www.CastingForRecovery.org
.
Get smart, get moving
We’d love to ofer you more specifc tips about
exercising safely as a cancer survivor.
Call Michelle Calendine,
LifeFit wellness specialist, at
843-522-5780
.
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Health Scene • www.bmhsc.org