MOVEMENT FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

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• MOVEMENT FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
• MARCH 3, 2009
• Robin Memel Fox, MA, ADTR, LPC,

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Educational Objectives

• 1. Discuss the role of movement in the prevention
  of breast cancer onset
• 2. Outline the appropriate role of movement for
  breast cancer survivors
• 3. Define the role of movement in the breast
  cancer recurrence prevention

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The Body Says What Words Cannot- Martha Graham

• Movement is our first language and most basic
  form of communication.
• It is a metaphor for how we think, feel and
  relate to the self and others.
• To move is to create, to contact our spiritual
  selves, to feel alive and connected to ourselves
  and others.

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• Body/Mind/Spirit Connection- the body does not
  lie
• There are many forms of movement activities that
  enhance the body/mind/spirit connection and help
  aid in healing from cancer and other illnesses
• Movement should not be painful, it should be
  enjoyable and healing

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The American Cancer Society recommendations for
cancer prevention

• Maintain a healthy weight throughout life
• Balance calorie intake with physical activity
• Avoid excessive weight gain throughout life
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight if
  currently overweight or obese

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• Adults Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate
  to vigorous physical activity, above usual
  activities, on 5 or more days of the week 45 to
  60 minutes of intentional physical activity are
  preferable.
• For complete Nutritional and Physical Activity
  Guidelines, see www.cancer.org

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Physical Activity

• Physical activity may be the most important
  lifestyle factor for reducing breast cancer risk
  and recurrence.
• Not only does it make breast cancer less likely
  to develop, it helps prevent heart disease,
  stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
• And it has the added bonus of helping with weight
  control, relieving stress, building strength, and
  increasing energy level.

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Movement for breast cancer survivors

• The goals and benefits of movement and physical
  activity may include, but is not limited to
• Enhance energy levels
• increase range of motion
• relief from pain in shoulders and arms
• stretch scar tissue
• express your emotions
• connect to body
• improve body image
• have fun
• helps circulate and balance hormones/immune
  system

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Benefits of movement and physical activity cont.

• help maintain healthy weight
• decrease nausea and fatigue during cancer
  treatments
• decrease tension, anxiety and depression
• decrease risk of cancer recurrence
• prevent lymphedema
• increase joy and sense of aliveness
• improve survival rates
• improve breathing
• be present in the moment
• increase self-acceptance

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Physical activities for breast cancer survivors

• Pilates
• NIA
• Creative Movement
• Golf
• Playing Team Sports
• Weight training
• Bicycling
• Skating
• Skiing
• Martial Arts
• Hiking
• Gentle Aerobics
• House cleaning/chores
• Gardening

• Walking
• Yoga
• Dance
• Dance/Movement Therapy
• the Lebed Method
• Feldenkrais
• Breath work
• Tai'Chi
• Qigong
• Jogging
• Swimming
• Gentle Stretching
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy

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Discussion of Dance/Movement Therapy and Lebed
Method

• Dance/Movement Therapy is defined by the American
  Dance Therapy Association as the
  psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process
  which furthers the emotional, cognitive and
  physical integration of the individual.
  Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) works with the
  connection between the mind and the body, by
  assuming that together they are an integrated
  whole, each affecting the other.

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Dance/Movement Therapy

• DMT is a proven effective treatment modality for
  people of all ages needing help with a variety of
  issues/problems. DMT is also recognized as a
  specialty of professional counseling by the
  National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC,
  2000).

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Dance/Movement Therapy

• Research on Dance/Movement Therapy support groups
  have shown an improvement on the length and
  quality of life of people with cancer and other
  terminal illnesses.

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The Lebed Method

• www.lebedmethod.com
• The Lebed Method, Focus on Healing through
  Movement and Dance, is a therapeutic exercise
  program for women who have had any kind of breast
  surgery, node dissection, radiation,
  chemotherapy, Lymphedema, or who suffer with
  chronic fatigue

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The Lebed Method

• Two physicians and a dance movement specialist
  created this program to help women and men
• Regain Range of Motion
• Increase flexibility in Frozen Shoulder
• Work with Balance issues both physically and
  emotionally
• Help reduce swelling from Lymphedema
• May help reduce the risk of Lymphedema
• Decrease depression
• Add to sexuality
• Increases femininity
• Promotion of positive self image and joy
• Weight stabilization
• is FUN and EASY to do
• No special physical abilities required

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• Certain exercises can be one of the major
  preventatives for some future problems for
  survivors, from one day after surgery to 30 years
  after surgery.
• This quality program is needed to help Breast
  Cancer Survivors thrive once they have survived,
  with a better quality of life.

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Breast Cancer Recurrence Prevention

• Dozens of published research studies show that
  moderate physical activity helps prevent breast
  cancer recurrence, and may promote greater
  survival rates.
• Minimum of 1-3 hours a week of moderate physical
  activity is recommended, 3-8 hours a week is even
  more effective.
• Doing any type of exercise during and after
  treatment for breast cancer may be difficult, but
  even a little mild physical activity is helpful

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Physical Activity and BC

• Physical activity may work in conjunction with
  other behaviors to lower risk and recurrence. In
  a recent study, women with one type of breast
  cancer (hormone receptor positive) cut their
  fatality rate in half by doing both moderate
  exercise thirty minutes a day, six days per week
  and eating five or more fruits and vegetables
  each day.

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Physical Activity and BC

• It reduces fatigue, anxiety, and depression. It
  helps prevent the weight gain that is an
  unfortunate side effect of many cancer treatments
• These added pounds not only increase the risk for
  recurrence, they make breast cancer survivors
  more likely to develop other serious conditions
  like heart disease and diabetes.

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Physical Activity and BC

• Physical activity discourages cancer growth by
  boosting the immune system, reducing
  inflammation, and helping maintain a healthy
  weight
• Regular exercise helps keep off the fatty tissue
  that piles on when we gain weight
• Fat, especially around our middle, produces
  estrogen and other substances that promote cancer
  growth
• Adapted from website of Karen Collins, M.S.,
  R.D., C.D.N.

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• As far as exercise is concerned, a study
  published in the May 25, 2005 issue of the
  Journal of the American Medical Association found
  that it improved survival among women who have
  had breast cancer even if they walked as little
  as an hour a week
• The authors noted that after a breast cancer
  diagnosis, women decrease their levels of
  physical activity by two hours a week and that
  even greater decreases have been seen among obese
  women.

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• In closing, it is clearly shown to be imperative
  that women with breast cancer engage in some type
  of moderate physical activity or movement -based
  activity or support.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet,
  healthy weight and engaging in movement
  activities minimizes the risks of breast cancer
  onset and recurrence.

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Questions and Answers

• Now let's get moving with our experiential
  portion of today!