Thrive by IU Health

October 31, 2024

Physical therapy is part of this patient’s healing from cancer diagnosis

IU Health Simon Cancer Center

Physical therapy is part of this patient’s healing from cancer diagnosis

A studio artist describes how her treatment and recovery extend beyond her cancer diagnosis.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org.

Every week, Laurel “Laurie” Wright and her husband, David Wright drive from their Columbus, Ind. home to IU Health University Hospital. Laurie spends an hour working with physical therapist, Stacy Weber on exercises to improve her strength and balance.

“Laurie came to me after watching a ‘Simon Says,’ presentation about neuropathy,” said Weber. “Simon Says,” are free livestream 45-minute webinars addressing various aspects of cancer care and treatment. Each webinar features an expert from IU Health Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center presenting a topic and answering questions. The next webinar is at noon, Nov. 19. IU Health Dr. Nasser Hanna and End Lung Cancer Now Executive Director MacKenzie Church will speak about lung cancer.

When Wright heard Weber speak about neuropathy and ways to improve physical health, she began taking part in “Multidisciplinary Oncologic Vitality and Exercise” (M.O.V.E.). The program was created by Dr. Tarah Ballinger to offer supportive oncology services as part of every patient’s journey through survivorship. Physical therapy is one of those services.

Wright was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. A year later, she was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in the soft tissues of the body, muscle, fats, and nerves. She is in the care of Dr. L. Daniel Wurtz, and Physician Assistant Andrea Banet. Her treatments have included chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Neuropathy is a nerve condition that can cause pain, numbness and muscle weakness.

Laurel “Laurie” Wright

Weber is the physical therapist supporting cancer patients through the M.O.V.E. program. She assesses each patient’s needs and works with them to improve those areas.

Studies indicate that up to 90 percent of patients treated with radiation therapy and up to 80 percent of those treated with chemotherapy experience fatigue. The National Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCN) recommends exercise as one of the most effective non-pharmacologic interventions for patients treated for cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends people undergoing cancer treatment, and cancer survivors, perform consistent physical exercise to decrease fatigue, and improve the ability to perform normal daily activities. Studies show that exercise can improve an individual’s chances of surviving cancer. Physical therapists design individualized exercise and treatment programs to reduce or prevent many cancer-related problems.

Wright recently spent time standing on a whole-body vibration machine, she described as an amusement park ride. She started balancing in a standing position and then added movements - arm lifts, head turns and squats.

Retired from a framing business, Wright is a studio artist who recently presented one of her works in the IU Health Simon Cancer Center CompleteLife art show. Her graphite on paper drawing was titled, “Little Hairs Everywhere.”

In her artist statement she wrote: “I was no different from any other woman facing chemo. The big question (after “is this going to kill me”), was “will I lose my hair?” Before it started falling out, I asked my hairdresser to buzz my silver hair down to about an inch because I don’t want to have to clean my hair out of the shower drain. With my husband and several girlfriends in attendance, we turned my haircut into an event and had a lot of fun with it. My sense of humor got me through my treatments and made a big difference in my attitude. Eventually, that is what I saw, “Little Hairs Everywhere.””

In addition to her own treatment with IU Health, Wright accompanies her husband of 52 years, to checkups. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 10 years ago and is in the care of Dr. Rafat Abonour.

She plans to capture both of their cancer journeys through several pieces of original art.

“IU Health has been very good to us. We love our doctors and all those who have been involved in our treatment,” said Laurie Wright.

Tags:

Cancer

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