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TurningPoint's Staff Wish You and Your Family a Joyous and Peaceful Holiday Season!
Jill Binkley, PT, CLT
Marcia Pearl, PT, CLT
Cathy Furbish, PT
Anita Boyce, PTA
Renee Vaughn, LMT
Dorlores Moore, LMT
Leslie Hunter, LMT
Karen Savrin, LSW
Carlyn Kappy, RD, LD
Arelis Nelms
Thank you to all of our patients for trusting us with your care and to our volunteers, donors and board members for making our work possible. |
Our Annual Campaign Continues...
The 2011 year is almost over but there is still time to get your 2011 tax-deductible donations in!
Your generous gift - of any amount - will give us the power to serve all women with breast cancer regardless of their ability to pay for services.
Please click on picture below to donate online or send payment directly to TurningPoint.
Thank you for your support!
* Please consider making a recurring monthly, quarterly or annual gift. For more information about this option, and about employee matching, please email Erin Long at elong@myturningpoint.org | | |
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Exercise Program
This class is open to all women in the community during and after breast cancer treatment. Women new to TurningPoint will need a referral from your doctor and will meet with a physical therapist to customize your program prior to starting the class.
Classes are held every Thursday from 10-11 am
Please note their will be no class on Dec. 22nd.
RSVP Required.
Please sign up by emailing staff@myturningpoint.org |
Weight Management & Wellness Group
TurningPoint offers weight management and wellness classes once a month on Saturday mornings.
The purpose of this class is to help women manage their weight, whether the goal is losing weight, maintaining ideal weight or simply improving healthy eating and exercise habits.
Women new to TurningPoint will need a referral from your doctor and will meet with a physical therapist prior to starting the group.
Winter Saturdays:
Dec. 17th, Jan. 7th
Jan. 21st
9-10am at TurningPoint
RSVP required. For more information, please email
staff@myturningpoint.org
Classes are complimentary and are led by TurningPoint's Dietitian, Carlyn Kappy, RD, LD
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Support Group
Coffee & Conversation Group
A Social and Supportive Meeting for Women with
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Please Note: There will be no group for the month of December. | | |
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You can't get too much winter in the winter.
- Robert Frost |
| Patient Perspective: Surviving the Storm | I am from New Orleans and moved to the
 | | Diane and her husband Jay, at Susan G. Komen-Greater Atlanta event. |
Atlanta area following Hurricane Katrina. Although somes of our friends did lose their homes, we only had minimal damage. We were very fortunate, but decided it would be best to move. As a woman battling metastatic breast cancer, this was very difficult; this meant being uprooted and finding all new doctors! I am so thankful that a friend told me about all of the services offered through TurningPoint. In the past five years, I have participated in physical and massage therapy and attended many of the educational and support events offered by TurningPoint. The Coffee and Conversation Group for women with metastatic breast cancer has been one of the most meaningful experiences for me. As a 28-year survivor, it helps me so much to meet with other women who share their knowledge, treatment history, medicines and support.
I believe that all women with breast cancer should have the support and expertise offered by TurningPoint. If you are able, pay them a visit...I assure you, you will be glad that you did. The staff is welcoming, warm and knowledgeable and the friends you make will be an important part of your recovery process.
Diane G. Jones, 28-year Survivor
and 11-year Metastatic Breast Cancer Survivor |
| Evidence Update: Reducing Lymphedema Risk | |
Lymphedema is the most feared side effect of breast cancer treatment, and we are often asked about prevention measures. For example, women frequently ask if manual lymphatic (MLD) drainage done before they have lymphedema can prevent it.
In a recent study published by Devoogdt,* 160 patients with breast cancer and axillary lymph node dissection were randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group received a program that included education about the prevention of lymphedema, exercise therapy, and manual lymph drainage. The control group received the same program without manual lymph drainage. The treatment was done over 6 months, during which women were evaluated for lymphedema.
At 12 months after surgery, the incidence of arm lymphedema was comparable between the treatment group (24%) and control group (19%). The authors concluded that manual lymph drainage in addition to guidelines and exercise therapy after axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer is unlikely to have a significant effect in reducing the incidence of arm lymphedema, at least in the short term.
*Devoogdt N et al. Effect of manual lymph drainage in addition to guidelines and exercise therapy on arm lymphoedema related to breast cancer: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. September, 2011 (epublished ahead of print: 10.1136/bmj.d5326).
How Can Women Reduce their Risk of Lymphedema?
No studies have shown that we can prevent lymphedema. From the study above, it appears that MLD does not reduce women's risk of lymphedema, but research does show that the following may REDUCE RISK of lymphedema:
1. Aerobic and upper body strengthening exercise.
2. Maintaining healthy weight.
3. Early physical therapy after surgery to regain range of motion.
3. Avoiding potential triggers that increase blood flow to the arm, such as infection, sprains and strains and overheating. Simple precautions such as wearing gloves when gardening, applying anti-bacterial ointment on any cuts or burns that are concerning, progressing weight programs slowly and steadily to avoid sprains and strains, using insect repellent.
When Should Women Seek Treatment for Lymphedema?
Women at risk for lymphedema should understand the signs and symptoms of lymphedema so that it can be identified and treated early. These include:
- heaviness or achiness in arm
- watches, rings, clothing feel tight
- swelling or puffiness - often most visible around tendons and bony prominences in the arm or hand
In order to facilitate early detection, we recommend baseline measures of the arm and hand, either pre-operatively or within a few weeks after surgery. This enables your physical therapist to help you identify even mild lymphedema. Research has shown that treating lymphedema in the early and mild phase is most effective in managing lymphedema and reducing progression.
*References for this update available upon request. |
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Alpharetta Women Golf for TurningPoint | |
Turning Point Women's Healthcare was the recipient of the fundraising efforts of the Alpharetta Athletic Club Ladies Golf Association tournament on October 4. The event raised $1,525 for TurningPoint in the first annual pink, "Fight like a Girl Day". Thirty-one ladies played golf and enjoyed a terrific fall luncheon.
TurningPoint would like to especially thank CJ Barber for all her hard work and passion in bringing this together. We also want to thank The Alpharetta Athletic Club and all the women who supported this event.
* Click here to see article in the Alpharetta Athletic Club November Newsletter. |
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Thank You's | |
TurningPoint would like to thank South Forsyth's Middle School Beta Club for their special fundraising event in behalf of TurningPoint. They raised $578.55!
We also want to thank Christine Kluge and Mitchell Orthodontics in Loganville. They recently held their first breast cancer fundraiser and the proceeds made were donated to TurningPoint.
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Left to right: Dr. George Mitchell (Owner), Renee Vaughn (TurningPoint Office Manager) & Chris Kluge (Office Manager). |
Thank you for your support! |
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TurningPoint Women's Healthcare is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that maximizes quality of life for women with breast cancer by providing, promoting and advocating specialized and evidenced based rehabilitation.
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