Exercise likely to prevent, treat breast cancer

CHRISTINE GRAF STAFF WRITER ACG724@CABRINI EDU

A new study on exercise after breast cancer treatment shows promising results. University of Pennsylvania is completing a study on how exercise affects post-surgical breast cancer patients.

Communications professor Cathy Yungmann, a survivor of breast cancer, was a year-long participant in the study.

Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 46, Yungmann knew she would be in for a life-changing experience. As a child she remembered breast cancer as a death sentence which no one talked about. Breast cancer research had come a long way from her childhood to the time of her diagnosis and even today is continuing to improve.

The year-long study at University of Pennsylvania invited 288 breast cancer survivors of all ages to participate, half with lymphedema, which is swelling in the arm after surgery, and half without it. The focus was to find out if weight-training was safe for patients with lymphedema and would not bring on lymphedema for patients not already affected.

Each woman trained twice a week for a whole year. Their intensity was slow, progressive and supervised carefully.

“Times have really changed since I first was diagnosed with breast cancer,”

Upset for the Eagles

Yungmann said. “After my surgery, my doctor advised me to avoid using the arm on the side I had surgery and even my purse would be too strenuous to carry on that arm.” gmann said. “After my s suurggery, y m my y or advised me to avvooid usiinng g t the a arm he side I had surggery d even my e would be too streenuous to o ca carr r y on arm ” oday researcherrs s ar a e luding from studiees s like that at t the versity that exercise e n seeems m to be more ficial than anything else. Th T e study y proven n Th T eref e ore men lymphede d m ma ld not e oval of a doctor, s saidd. cancnceer by 20 perrceennt

Today doctors and researchers are concluding from studies like that at the University of Pennsylvania that exercise when done moderately seems to be more bene has not been completely proven. Therefore women with breast cancer or lymphedema should not exercise without the full approval of a doctor, Yungmann said.

E Exeercise sciennce e professor hoow w e exercise c w women survivve e b bre r ast can prevennt it

Exercise science professor, Dr. Tony Verde, explains how exercise can not only help women survive breast cancer but also there and told me the doctor called with my results and it was a tumor,” Kavanagh said. “My whole body shook and I could do nothing but hysterically cry.”

After participating in the study Yungmann feels physically stronger. The study represents women in control of their cancer and not the other way around. Chemotherapy can make patients weak but what keeps them strong involves staying active.

Yungmann re of chemotherapy and remembers complete exhaustion. “I was very tired and had little energy, but continued to keep my self occupied through gardening. It was inspirational and represented life and hope.” t thhe gmann y s The y in control o of cancer and not t the way aroound. motherapy can n m w weeak k but t m strong involvees s s sttay a ing ve Yungmaannn reflects back o on n her times hemootherapy and remembeerrs s ustiioon “I was very tiirred e and had ennergy, but continuued t to occcupied gaarddenening. irattiional and repreesenntted life and e.” reaast t cancer affectts women

United d States and s stanndds e of m mor o tality i in n N North American man. Studdies s show w t thhaat our caan n reducce e the risk of breast

Breast cancer affects 1 in 9 women in the United States and stands as the leading cause of mortality in North American woman. Studies show that being active for an hour a day can reduce the risk of breast

JESSICA HAGERTY SPORTS EDITOR JH729@CABRINI EDU

On Sunday, Oct. 21 the Eagles faced an unbearable defeat by the Chicago Bears. With just 1:52 and no time-outs remaining, the birds gave up 97-yards for the Bears’ winning touchdown to record a 19-16 victory. This upset has left Philadelphia fans questioning the coaching staff, primarily head coach Andy Reid. According to ESPN.com, Reid is just 18-20 since the Eagles went to, and lost, Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season.

Ohio State slips past Michigan State

The No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes led the game early on against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 20. Late in the third quarter the Buckeyes gave up two touchdowns off turnovers but with their comfortable lead still managed to defeat the Spartans with a 24-17 victory. The Spartans came into the game confident, as they had upset the undefeated and top-ranked Buckeyes in 1998. The Buckeyes had a 24-9 lead by the third quarter but the Spartans had pulled off a 28-24 shocker.

AHL rules Boulerice ineligible to play

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice is ineligible to play in the American Hockey League until December 16 due to suspension from the National Hockey League. Boulerice received the longest single-season ban in league history, according to 6ABC. com. Boulerice was suspended 25 games by the NHL on Oct. 12 for striking Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler across the face with his stick.

“When a woman exercises the amount cantly lowers. Estrogen triggers the spread of breast cancer; therefore low estrogen can prevent cancer from spreading. Exercise also increases the activity and sensitivity of natural killer cells which are cells in the immune system responsible for early detection of cancer,”

Bridget Kavanagh, a junior studio art major, represents proof that it is never too early to start learning about breast cancer. Kavanagh was a junior in high school and only 17 years old when she first felt something strange on her breast.

“I ignored it, I was 17, and there was no way that it (lump in breast) could be anything serious, I was just too young,” Kavanagh said. Over time the lump she felt grew into something she could visually see and decided to mention it to her mother.

Kavanagh, accompanied by her mother, went to the doctors for an ultrasound. Neither of them were too worried since Kavanagh was only 17. They figured it

“I’ll never forget the feeling I felt when my mom sat me down with my whole family

“WWhhen a womaan n e exxercises of esttrogen signific caannttly lower tr t iggggers the sprread d of bre thheerefore low essttroggeen can pre f from spreading g E Exercise als s n cells which are e c cells in the imm responsiible e foor r ea e rly detection Verde e saiid Kavanaagh, , junio m maajor, represents proof f th t at it e earlly y to start abbout br Kavanaagh g junioor r in i h and y 17 old when en s somethinng g strange on her breeas 17, a an no way thaat t it in n brreeas serrioous, I was s juust t saiidd. Ovver timme e the l into somethinng g she could m he by went to an were too w The was no more then a cyst w

Upon visiting a specialist the doctor was pretty sure it was not cancerous but they would not be completely sure until it was removed and a biopsy was performed. “The doctor was so surprised that the tumor was so big; I had ignored it for so long that I was lucky we caught it before it did any real damage,” Kavanagh said.

“There was a time in my life I thought I had cancer and it is the scariest feeling in the world. There is no excuse for avoiding getting checked through doctors and selfexaminations. Be conscious of your health, exercise and eat right, it will be worth it in the long run,” Kavanagh said.

Kavanagh was lucky that her tumor was not cancerous but it could very well have been. She stresses the importance of sharing her story because “we really do think we are invincible; and we are most definitely not,” Kavanagh said.

The Loquitur welcomes your questions and comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@ googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.

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