Women’s Health
S P E C I A L A DV E RTIS ING S E C T ION
Women’s Health: TURNING the TABLES ON CANCER
written by POINTS NORTH ATLANTA STAFF
written by JENNIFER COLOSIMO
LESS THAN 13 PERCENT of women diagnosed with breast cancer achieve recommended levels of physical activity each week. While you may not think that’s a big deal, a subtle change in regimen can make a life-changing impact on their future. That’s the message that TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation sends to women. As the only non-profit of its kind in the area, their mission is to focus on rehabilitation and quality of life for women with breast cancer. TurningPoint offers physical and massage therapy, counseling, nutritional counseling, exercise classes and educational programs at their Sandy Springs clinic to help breast cancer patients and survivors feel better following the treatments they have endured. “More research is emerging on this topic all the time, with evidence showing the real benefits that a healthy lifestyle can
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have on a patient recovering from breast cancer,” said Rebecca Cowens-Alvarado, the program’s new executive director. “For starters, weight management and an active lifestyle help improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of recurrence, manage lymphedema, help reduce side effects like neuropathy, pain, fatigue, osteoporosis, and it can reduce mortality.” TurningPoint helps women regain range of motion, strength and functionality — in essence, “what makes women who they are,” said Cowens-Alvarado. That includes getting women back to a place of normalcy, like being able to lift their kids, work in the garden, play tennis and more. Cowens-Alvarado spent 18 years working with American Cancer Society and has a personal connection to the disease as well, having lost several family members to cancer.
“There was a real draw toward working with cancer for me, and I love the work that TurningPoint is doing to impact the Atlanta community,” she said. Making it easy for women to access the recovery resources they need from professionals is one of the benefits TurningPoint offers. It’s also affordable, offering reduced-cost services to women who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t cover some of the expenses. The atmosphere is comfortable, serene and personalized. As the organization marks its 14th year, Cowens-Alvarado said that part of the long-term vision of TurningPoint is to expand and offer their unique services in a bigger way or in other places geographically. In either case, it could be a real turning point for many women. PN myturningpoint.org