T-Tapp and Breast Cancer

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I'm sharing this article about Breast Cancer and T-Tapp written by two T-Tapp Trainers from New York City who are working with clinical trials for breast cancer patients using T-Tapp at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Breast Cancer & T-Tapp
by T-Tapp Trainers
Donna Wilson and Esther Choi Williams

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancer.  Twelve percent of American women have a chance of developing invasive breast cancer that is a little less than 1 in 8 women in US.  American cancer society 2009 statistics is 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer in US, and 40,170 women will die from breast cancer.  This is the second leading cause of cancer death in women exceeded by lung cancer.  Presently there are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the US.  Many women experience secondary complications of the disease and the treatment such as fatigue, weight gain, poor body image, premature menopause, sleep disturbances, increased risk of osteoporosis and lymphedema.
   
Breast cancer is commonly treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  Some receive chemotherapy before surgery and many women do not require radiation.  This depends on the stage and the cell type of the cancer.  Many have a sentinel node biopsy to stage the disease.  An axillary lymph node dissection and radiation can result in lymphedema due to obstruction, trauma, and inflammation of the lymphatic system.  Lymphedema is defined as an abnormal accumulation of protein rich fluid, edema and chronic inflammation.  This causes pain, tightness and heaviness in the upper extremity.  Additional problems associated with lymphedema decrease range of motion and poor flexibility.  For many years women were told to avoid exercise involving repetitive motion.  There was no scientific evidence or data at that time to support these preventive strategies.  Recently there are many research studies are encouraging exercise.  Skeletal muscle contractions provide the primary pumping mechanism for lymphatic and venous drainage therefore exercise is encouraged.

There are many studies that suggest yoga and pilates decrease the unpleasant side effects such as anxiety, depression and fatigue.  T-Tapp provides mindful movements focusing on movement quality rather than repetitions.  Concentrating on the feel of a movement rather than its appearance while exercising restores the body confidence.  T-Tapp teaches how to resume your posture and strengthening the back muscles thus gives one the strength to maintain good posture.  The T-Tapp exercises build strength and mobility on both sides of the body, this is ideal for clients that have one sided or right and left sided stiffness.  The most effective movement in T-Tapp after breast cancer is Primary Back Stretch preventing rounding of the upper back and slumped shoulders from the physical effects of surgery, thus T-Tapp focuses on posture and alignment.  Many of the T-Tapp movements promote lymph flow to veins in the neck where it returns to the blood circulation.  Exercise assists the proteins in lymph fluid to be reabsorbed.  Remember lymph fluid moves through action, exercise and activity.  Thus doing T-Tapp exercises on a regular basis will help increase the lymph flow.  It also provides flexibility and stretching to increase range of motion, and decrease muscle soreness and stress. 

Overall T-Tapp's comprehensive movements are effective before and after a breast cancer diagnosis.  The classes we provide at the Integrative Medicine Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center focus on improving flexibility, focus on stimulating lymphatic flow, decrease one's fatigue level from treatments and restore energy level.  Most importantly our team wants each patient to return to a normal lifestyle of activities.

Donna J Wilson RN, MSN/Personal Trainer/T-Tapp Instructor
Esther C Williams BA/Personal trainer/T-Tapp Instructor & Mentor
Integrative Medicine Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York

Very good information from two ladies who are working firsthand with breast cancer patients and seeing the benefits T-Tapp has for them!