Calgary Volunteers Raise Awareness for Cancer at Run for the Cure

by Barb Morrison, Clinical Director, Max Bell Physiotherapy

Run for the Cure Shows Spirit of the Calgary Community

This year, Calgary's Mayor Naheed Nenshi sent out a message to Calgarians about volunteerism. Whether it is bringing this city back to life after the floods or supporting events such as the Run for the Cure, volunteers make it happen. "This is Calgary, folks," he said. "This is the spirit of the Calgary community."

Centric Health's Calgary Region Provide CIBC Run for the Cure Team and Massages to Participants

On October 6, 2013, Centric Health's Calgary Region once again gave back to the community by providing a CIBC Run for the Cure team. For the eighth year in a row, employees provided massages to the participants as well as entered a team that walked or jogged the five kilometre route.

Clinical Director Barb Morrison gets a 'selfie' with Calgary Mayor Nenshi

As Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Kinesiologists and Massage Therapists, we are fortunate to have a skill set that allows us to provide this service to our community. More than 7,780 registered runners and about 1,000 volunteers took part in this year's CIBC Run for the Cure, which raised more than $1.3 million in Calgary alone. At the start of the race, I took a moment to get a 'selfie' with Mayor Nenshi.

We all have very busy lives and we may question whether we have the time to volunteer, but having the opportunity to participate in events such as Run for the Cure is very rewarding. At the end of the event, a woman in a pink 'Survivor' shirt came over and gave me a hug. She said "Thank you for what you... I am still here because of people like you who volunteer to raise awareness about the impact of cancer."

A huge thank you goes out to all of the Centric Health employees and family members who participated. Every year Centric Health has a strong presence at this event and we are recognized as a key player in the Calgary Run for the Cure.

See you next year!

Barb Morrison
Clinical Director, Max Bell Physiotherapy

Minimizing the Effects of Breast Cancer Through Cancer Rehab

Getting Back to Living - Not Just Surviving - After Breast Cancer

Even after surviving breast cancer, many patients find that although the treatment has ended, the cancer experience has not. The impact of cancer treatment and surgeries on psychological, emotional and physical well-being affects individuals in many ways causing problems such as:

• Pain
• Fatigue
• Decreased strength and mobility in shoulders
• Muscle aches
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Lymphedema

Cancer Rehabilitation Helps Minimize the Side Effects

The risk of developing lymphedema, or swelling in the arm, can be minimized through early cancer rehab treatment. A specially trained Physiotherapist can help to minimize the risk of developing lymphedema through exercise and education. It is vitality important to manage signs and symptoms early. Manual lymph drainage, provided by a certified therapist, has also been shown to effectively treat lymphedema and should even be considered proactively to prevent it in the first place.

Patient receives acupuncture after undergoing cancer treatment

Other benefits of cancer rehabilitation include exercise prescriptions to reduce the pain and fatigue that may be a result of the radiation or surgery that breast cancer patients have received.   Massage therapy, acupuncture and TENS can be used successfully to manage pain and parathesia, in addition to reducing stress. By seeking rehabilitation early, the research has shown we can prevent complications from occurring down the road, such as shoulder tendonitis or frozen shoulder. 

Restoring breast cancer survivors' previous level of function is a primary goal of cancer rehabilitation, and each client will have a tailored treatment plan to meet their individual goals.

Breast Cancer Affects 1 in 9 Canadian Women

Breast cancer survivors can minimize the risk of developing lymphedema through cancer rehabilitation

According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer affects 1 in 9 Canadian women in their lifetime, and it is estimated that in 2013 23,800 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Non-modifiable risk factors are listed as gender and age, personal & family cancer history and genetics, early menstruation and late menopause, breast density and breast conditions. Lifestyle choices included in the list of modifiable risk factors are smoking, body weight, physical activity, alcohol use, exposure to hormones (the Pill, in vitro fertilization, and hormone replacement therapy), among others. 

If you are a breast cancer survivor or a friend or family member of a breast cancer survivor, please visit one of our British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, or Nova Scotia locations.

Our Clinics at Niagara Area Rankin Run

Tod Hinton from our St. Catharines clinic location at the Rankin Cancer Run

Funds Raised For Niagara Area Hospitals and Cancer Support Services

Three of our clinics in the Niagara Region participated in the Rankin Run held on May 25 in St. Catharines, Ontario. With 11,578 participants and more than $675,000 raised this year, the Rankin Cancer Run raises funds for Niagara area hospitals and cancer support services. What is unique about the Rankin Run is that it donates all raised money directly back into its own local communities.

Todd Hinton from our St. Catharines location, Anne Kennedy from our Fonthill location, and Vittoria Mattucci from our Welland location demonstrated the effectiveness of urban walking poles at Cancer Rehab Canada's booth. Information on cancer rehabilitation was distributed to Rankin Run participants and supporters.

About Rankin Cancer Run

In 2004 Rankin Run founder Mary Ann Edwards wondered how she might be able to do more to help raise funds for all cancer related areas in her Niagara community. She made one phone call to Rankin Construction to sponsor a run/walk, and after receiving an immediate commitment from them, launched her event.

The annual run, now in its eight year, attracts phenomenal participation from the approximate 400,000 people living in the St. Catharines/Niagara region. Before the huge turnout this year, the Rankin Cancer Run had already raised $3.229 million to support local cancer services.

10 Things You Should Know About Cancer Exercise

Exercise is an important part of cancer rehabilitation

Exercise and Cancer Rehabilitation

Since exercise is one of the most effective methods of treating cancer and helping cancer survivors on their road to recovery, we wanted to share these important tips about cancer exercise.

1. Exercise is strongly recommended both during and after cancer treatments, and it is safe when you follow some safety guidelines.
2. Before starting an exercise program you should be screened for any physical limitations by a rehab professional such as a physiotherapist. Many problems such as restricted shoulder mobility, high blood pressure, or weakened postural muscles should be addressed before beginning any general exercise program.
3. It is important to monitor your heart rate throughout your workout. The general rule of thumb is that you want to keep your heart rate between 50% and 75% of your maximum heart rate.
4. Exercises should be modified to suit the individual. Anyone with bony metastases, for example, needs to minimize pressure on their bones and should be shown safe body positioning.
5. Do not exercise if you have a fever over 38°C or if your blood values contraindicate exercise. Please check with your doctor if you are unsure.
6. Be sure to take deep breaths, in and out, as you do each exercise. This helps with chest expansion and acts as a pumping action to improve circulation.
7. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of lymphedema.
8. The research indicates that the best treatment for reducing cancer related fatigue is exercise, but when you are exhausted exercise is often difficult to do. You should start slowly, follow a regular routine that includes gradual increase and you will begin to notice a difference in a few weeks.
9. Moderate exercise will improve your quality of life. You will notice that your mood improves after exercising and so does your self esteem. You begin to feel stronger mentally and physically.
10. Most importantly, there is growing evidence indicating that increased physical activity will improve your chances of survival. To date, this evidence is strongest for breast and colorectal cancer patients and the recommended minimum is 30 minutes of moderate exercise, 6 days per week.

Cancer Rehabilitation Improves Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life

Cancer Rehabilitation Benefits Optimal Recovery

Why aren't cancer patients routinely offered cancer rehabilitation services to help them return to normal life? These services are regularly provided for recovering cardiac patients and patients who had joint replacement surgery. Yet those people who have had cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgeries such as masectomy, are often not receiving cancer therapy or rehabilitation service despite the growing scientific evidence that it is very beneficial in obtaining optimal recovery.

Cancer Survivors Often Suffer From Disabilities Associated With Cancer Treatments

Cancer survivors benefit from client centered, active rehabilitation & empowerment

Cancer survivors often suffer from the side effects of their diagnosis and related treatment. Their functional impairments may include persistent fatigue, radiation fibrosis, chemotherapy fog, lymphedema, frozen shoulder and pain. Many of these conditions can be improved with interventions from a rehabilitation professional with specialized training, such as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or massage therapist.

According to the Canadian Partners Against Cancer, there is estimated to be 1 million cancer survivors in Canada today, with that number expected to increase to over 2 million by 2020. Physical disability is a leading cause of distress in this population. It is critical that this population be appropriately screened and treated for their impairments, so that we minimize their disabilities and maximize their quality of life.

Cancer C.A.R.E. Provides Client Centered, Active Rehabilitation & Empowerment for Cancer Survivors

Judy Boivin, a registered physiotherapist and cancer survivor, will be blogging about ways that cancer survivors can feel better, stronger and happier. Judy has recently developed and implemented an evidence based cancer rehabilitation program at 24 LifeMark/Centric Health locations across Ontario. The program provides Client centered, Active, Rehabilitation and Empowerment for cancer survivors. This service is appropriate for anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis and is receiving or recovering from cancer treatment.