When Newark resident Violet Williams was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, all of her immediate family who might provide support lived out of state, leaving her to face her treatment alone.
Throughout her treatment and recovery at The Frederick B. Cohen Cancer Center for Blood Disorders at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Williams took advantage of several support programs, including Recovery Fitness, a free, all-female exercise class for cancer patients.
"Those groups really carried me through the whole thing," Williams said. "Both the support group and the exercise class helped me mentally and physically to recover and get my strength back."
Recovery Fitness, offered at NBIMC on Mondays and Wednesdays at the new Beth Fitness Center, helps female cancer patients to have fun, get strong and reduce stress. It is one of only a few such programs in the state to specifically offer exercise classes tailored to the needs of female cancer patients. Recovery Fitness is made possible by grants from The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey and Eisai Co., Ltd., which were made through the Newark Beth Israel/Children’s Hospital of New Jersey Foundation.
"I like everything about it," said Williams. "Just being there and mingling with the other cancer patients is helpful, especially for the newly diagnosed women who can get a bit of hope from the ones who have been through it already."
Williams, who also suffers from Lymphedema, a condition of fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system, says that she has seen improvement in her arms with much better range of motion and less joint pain.
The class' instructor, Carol Michaels is a Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist who meets with each participant individually to learn about problem areas and to find ways to benefit each person. Goals of the class include increasing muscle mass, decreasing body fat, increasing flexibility, strength, posture and balance, strengthening the heart and bones, reducing stress and increasing self-confidence.
Many cancer patients experience secondary complications as a result of their cancer, such as frozen shoulder after a mastectomy and stiffness and discomfort as a result of lymph node dissection, Michaels said.
"Some female cancer patients experience the added aggravation of chronic conditions after treatment, and through this exercise program they can increase their range of motion and feel stronger again," said Dr. Alice Cohen, director of the Frederick B. Cohen Comprehensive Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. "Exercise improves function and also helps with overall stress reduction."
Studies have shown that exercise can aid in the recovery process during cancer treatment as well as to possibly decrease the likelihood of cancer recurrence, said Cohen.
Most importantly, Recovery Fitness offers a warm environment for patients who are at all different levels of recovery.
"This isn’t boot camp," said Michaels. "The exercises are safe and gentle and we have an appreciation for every fitness level. Someone might be able to work out with weights while another person sits in a chair to lift hers. It is very individualized."
Michaels said the group becomes, in effect, a support group with each person learning from one other and offering words of encouragement.
"Many people do not feel comfortable returning to their gyms right after surgery or treatment," she said. "Gym classes can be large and impersonal. At our class, the participants can even remove wigs and head wraps without feeling self-conscious. Gaining confidence through support is part of the whole recovery process."
After a year of participation, Williams plans to continue with the program.
"I even lost a few pounds," she said. "I’m going to keep going."
– Staff reports
http://newarknj.patch.com/articles/exercise-class-for-female-cancer-patients-offers-more-than-fitness
Throughout her treatment and recovery at The Frederick B. Cohen Cancer Center for Blood Disorders at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Williams took advantage of several support programs, including Recovery Fitness, a free, all-female exercise class for cancer patients.
"Those groups really carried me through the whole thing," Williams said. "Both the support group and the exercise class helped me mentally and physically to recover and get my strength back."
Recovery Fitness, offered at NBIMC on Mondays and Wednesdays at the new Beth Fitness Center, helps female cancer patients to have fun, get strong and reduce stress. It is one of only a few such programs in the state to specifically offer exercise classes tailored to the needs of female cancer patients. Recovery Fitness is made possible by grants from The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey and Eisai Co., Ltd., which were made through the Newark Beth Israel/Children’s Hospital of New Jersey Foundation.
"I like everything about it," said Williams. "Just being there and mingling with the other cancer patients is helpful, especially for the newly diagnosed women who can get a bit of hope from the ones who have been through it already."
Williams, who also suffers from Lymphedema, a condition of fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system, says that she has seen improvement in her arms with much better range of motion and less joint pain.
The class' instructor, Carol Michaels is a Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist who meets with each participant individually to learn about problem areas and to find ways to benefit each person. Goals of the class include increasing muscle mass, decreasing body fat, increasing flexibility, strength, posture and balance, strengthening the heart and bones, reducing stress and increasing self-confidence.
Many cancer patients experience secondary complications as a result of their cancer, such as frozen shoulder after a mastectomy and stiffness and discomfort as a result of lymph node dissection, Michaels said.
"Some female cancer patients experience the added aggravation of chronic conditions after treatment, and through this exercise program they can increase their range of motion and feel stronger again," said Dr. Alice Cohen, director of the Frederick B. Cohen Comprehensive Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. "Exercise improves function and also helps with overall stress reduction."
Studies have shown that exercise can aid in the recovery process during cancer treatment as well as to possibly decrease the likelihood of cancer recurrence, said Cohen.
Most importantly, Recovery Fitness offers a warm environment for patients who are at all different levels of recovery.
"This isn’t boot camp," said Michaels. "The exercises are safe and gentle and we have an appreciation for every fitness level. Someone might be able to work out with weights while another person sits in a chair to lift hers. It is very individualized."
Michaels said the group becomes, in effect, a support group with each person learning from one other and offering words of encouragement.
"Many people do not feel comfortable returning to their gyms right after surgery or treatment," she said. "Gym classes can be large and impersonal. At our class, the participants can even remove wigs and head wraps without feeling self-conscious. Gaining confidence through support is part of the whole recovery process."
After a year of participation, Williams plans to continue with the program.
"I even lost a few pounds," she said. "I’m going to keep going."
– Staff reports
http://newarknj.patch.com/articles/exercise-class-for-female-cancer-patients-offers-more-than-fitness
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