Karen Stronach, Manager, Ida and Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center, UCSF Stanford Health Care
"Focus on Healing is a very valuable video that can greatly benefit women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer."
Product Description
Focus on Healing is a therapeutic exercise program for women who have had any kind of breast surgery, node dissection, chemotherapy or radiation. It was developed by two physicians and a dance movement specialist (Sherry Lebed Davis) to help women regain and maintain range of motion, help reduce the risk of Lymphedema, help prevent frozen shoulder, help decrease depression and add to increased sexuality. As a result of the exercises in this program there was a 98% success rate in reducing the complications listed above. Today, more women are surviving breast cancer and statistics of developing Lymphedema range from 6% to 61%. It can occur 2 days after surgery to 30 years after surgery. Exercises such as the ones on this video can help prevent future problems for survivors, and therefore help to improve their quality of life after breast surgery.
The video is 49 minutes long and shows 5 women ranging in age from 35 to 72, all of whom have survived breast cancer from 6 months to over 20 years. They are NOT professional models and go through the exercises in an unintimidating manner. The movements can be done seated and the narrator/exercise leader constantly reminds the viewers to only do as much as they feel up to at the time. The pace never gets fast enough to become aerobic; to keep the heartbeat down, especially right after surgery. (Always check with your doctor before beginning this program.) The music is classical for the slower sections, more upbeat for the alternating faster sections, and is fun to move to. You might even find yourself smiling!
Enhancement, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) company, which produces videos for health and wellness. We are very pleased to be involved with helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of breast cancer survivors. If you are interested in helping us with funding, or have any suggestions, please visit our web site for further information at enhancementinc.com or email us at info@enhancementinc.com.
