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On Saturday, October 26, dozens of breast cancer survivors braved a rainy morning and took part in the first Exercise After Breast Cancer event presented by BWH and Reebok International. Held at Reebok’s new headquarters in Canton, the event was an outgrowth of BWH’s Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Survivors Project.
Director of BWH’s Comprehensive Breast Health Center Carolyn Kaelin, MD, MPH, spearheads the BWH-born project and has teamed up with Reebok Master Trainers Josie Gardiner and Joy Prouty to develop an exercise regimen that addresses the specific needs of women who have undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer.
With Reebok’s corporate partnership, the duo will produce four videos and one DVD that outlines exercise for women who have experienced one of four surgical treatments for breast cancer. “A woman who has had breast reconstruction surgery using the abdominal muscle will have very different rehabilitation needs than a woman whose procedure involved the back muscle,” said Kaelin.
“These videos will enable patients to tailor their exercise to address specific physical challenges and will allow them the comfort of beginning a post-surgical exercise program in the privacy of their own home.”
The Exercise After Breast Cancer event gave survivors the opportunity to tap into Kaelin’s wealth of knowledge regarding the unique physiological effects of breast cancer surgery and Gardiner’s fitness expertise. Participants’ feedback was positive and Kaelin hopes the event will be held annually for all breast cancer survivors.