Evelyn Sikorski was a bit delayed in getting her mammogram, so she decided to use a wellness program at work that allowed her to have it done during work hours. When she got a call the next day saying she had breast cancer, she was shocked and thought they might have mixed up her results with someone else’s. Receiving a diagnosis like this can really hit hard. She had to make significant decisions about surgery, radiation, and possibly medication. Sikorski, who is the manager of employee health and wellness at the University of Vermont Medical Center, had previously only seen the facility from a professional perspective, not as a patient. As someone who favors a holistic approach to healthcare, she was comforted by the availability of resources and the opportunity to ask questions and consider her options.
Besides standard medical care, the UVM Cancer Center provides integrative therapies, including massage and acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness classes, and customized diet and exercise plans. Among these, the Steps to Wellness exercise program stands out for its uniqueness. According to Kim Dittus, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and director of the program, it’s a rarity as most places either don’t offer it or charge patients out of their own pockets for such services.
Dittus explains that insurance doesn’t usually cover exercise rehabilitation for cancer patients like it does for those with heart or lung issues, creating a service gap for those who can’t afford it on their own. She emphasizes the importance of exercise in helping cancer survivors regain their previous level of activity or even improve upon it, as regular exercise can reduce the chances of cancer recurrence, particularly for breast cancer survivors.
Launched in 2011, the Steps to Wellness Oncology Rehabilitation program offers a 12-week supervised exercise regimen, including both cardio and strength training, designed to improve participants’ aerobic capacity, strength, balance, and reduce fatigue. Given the challenges of exercising after radiation or chemotherapy, the program customizes plans to each individual’s starting point, accounting for the varied treatment intensities among participants. Initially, participants meet with a physical therapist and possibly a physician assistant to check for any issues that could affect their exercise regimen.
Those joining the program pay a copay for their initial evaluation, but the exercise component itself is free. Sikorski mentioned how motivating it was to see others undergoing similar journeys, despite the difficulties brought on by treatments like radiation or chemotherapy. Participating with a group of women with different breast cancer experiences made her feel less isolated on her path to recovery.
Data collected from the program shows that participants experience noticeable improvements in both strength and walking capabilities. As noted by Dittus, older participants, for example, show improved ability in everyday activities, like standing up from a chair. Before starting the program, 25% of participants aged 65 and older were at risk of falling. This figure dropped to 3% after completing the program.
For Sikorski, the integrative therapies at UVM Cancer Center helped tailor a treatment plan that felt personalized. She appreciated being treated holistically and not just as a cancer patient. Along with the exercise regime, she benefited from healing touch therapy during radiation and nutritional counseling.
Although integrative therapies are beneficial, Dittus emphasizes they aren’t substitutes for traditional cancer treatments. She helps patients make informed treatment choices based on their cancer’s severity. In Sikorski’s case, her cancer was not very advanced, allowing her to choose integrative therapies over medication. Three years post-diagnosis, Sikorski continues to maintain her health using the integrative strategies she learned, focusing on exercise and diet to stay cancer-free.
