Pegasus Post: October 11, 2016

PEGASUS POST Tuesday October 11 2016 5
News
Fighting cancer with fitness
WHEN MAIREHAU resident
Isobel Stout was diagnosed
with breast cancer, fighting the
disease and getting through the
gruelling treatment regime was
her main focus.
Six months of chemotherapy,
a double mastectomy and five
weeks of radiation left her
“absolutely shattered” and
she was not prepared for the
challenging transition back to
everyday life.
It was not until Ms Stout, 50,
discovered a new exercise class
for recovering breast cancer
patients at St George’s Cancer
Care Centre that she began to
get her life back. Recently, she
completed a charity bike ride
up Coronet Peak, raising $4000
for the Pinc & Steel Cancer
Rehabilitation Trust.
She is a senior environmental
health officer at the city council
and was one of the first patients
to sign up to the initiative
in which pilates, yoga and
cardiovascular exercises are
delivered by trained oncology
physiotherapists.
For Ms Stout, the main
benefits of St George’s exercise
classes were restoring confidence
and getting her physical strength
back after treatment.
“I had no trust in myself
ON HER FEET: Isobel Stout (left) discovered a new exercise
class for recovering breast cancer patients and has been
working with St George’s Cancer Care Centre oncology
physiotherapist Julee Binns. ​
anymore and didn’t know what
I should or could do physically,”
she said.
“I had been pretty active
before my diagnosis but it
somehow didn’t feel right to be
going back into that routine after
what my body had been through
during treatment and surgery.
Forty-five other Christchurch
women have since completed the
10-week programme, which is
offered free of charge to eligible
patients due to funding from
the New Zealand Breast Cancer
Foundation and the Pinc & Steel
Cancer Rehabilitation Trust.
It is the only programme of
its kind in Christchurch, and
plans are in place to introduce
a similar initiative for men
recovering from prostate cancer.
Oncology physiotherapist
Julee Binns said there is a real
need for cancer patients to have
access to specialised exercise
programmes post-treatment.
“The side effects of cancer
treatment, for example scarring
and lymphedema, limit the
ability to exercise and can have
a big impact on quality of life,”
she said.
Practice manager Viv Ali said
the clinic’s long-term vision is
to develop a wider programme
for patients that incorporates
exercise, yoga and mindfulness.
Exercise has been shown to
improve outcomes for cancer
patients both during and after
treatment. Some benefits include
decreased fatigue, an increased
sense of well-being, improved
functional ability and reduced
risk of osteoporosis following
chemotherapy.
International studies of
women diagnosed with breast
cancer indicate a 50 to 53 per
cent increased chance of survival
if regular, moderate intensity
exercise is undertaken.
In Brief
DISASTER READY
Bunnings Warehouse Shirley
is holding a natural disaster
emergency management week
to raise awareness about being
prepared. Get Ready Week began
yesterday and runs until Sunday
in Bunnings stores around the
city. Eastern suburbs residents
are encouraged to visit their local
Bunnings for information and
activities on how to get prepared.
Children will have an opportunity
to make a take-home emergency
board that includes vital information
to ‘grab and go’ in the case of
an emergency.
MAIREHAU ROAD REPAIRS
Fortune St in Mairehau will
undergo repair work over the next
three weeks. Preliminary CCTV
investigations have been completed
and Stronger Christchurch
Infrastructure Rebuild Team has
begun a full relay of the wastewater
mainline along Fortune
St outside number 35. The work
is expected to take about three
weeks.
QEII TENDER
Tenders for the construction of
the new QE II Recreation and
Sport Centre are still being evaluated.
It is expected the contract
will be considered by the city
council at the Wednesday, November
2 meeting.
Drama Classes for Children
The Blind Care Company has been
cleaning and repairing the region’s blinds
for over 60 years. Those six decades
have seen changes in both fashion and
technology. Styles have ranged from
festooned fabric swags to straightforward
and still popular holland roller blinds,
from vertical to horizontal slat systems,
and in every colour or pattern popular
since the 1960s.
Whatever your style, the Blind Care
Company has the expertise to keep your
window treatments looking fresh and
working efficiently. Using only ecofriendly
chemicals, the build-up of dirt,
dust, grease, nicotine and smoke residue
Helping children
develop social
skills for a
competitive
world.
Fun Classes for 5-17 years
Weekly Classes 0800 161 131
www.helenogrady.co.nz
can be removed so that your blinds
smell fresh and are restored to their
original glory. The company can repair
blinds also, having a huge range of parts
in stock. And if you want something
completely new, a great range of blinds is
available for purchase.
The company prides itself on efficient
service, providing a fast turn-around,
with most work taking one or two
days, and a same day cleaning option is
available. It makes it as easy as possible
for clients. The Cashel Street location
couldn’t be more convenient and a pickup
and drop-off service is available. 150
blinds per day can be cleaned at this site,
HELPING US,
HELPS THE
COMMUNITY
Drop off or buy
2 family stores in your community
30 Main North Rd,
Ph 352 4581
520 Cranford St,
Ph 352 0515
For all your blind repair and cleaning requirements
or one of their mobile vans can do up to
50 per day. That means they will come to
your home or office, remove and clean
your blinds on the spot and reinstall them
for you.
A cut-down and size alteration service
is available in order that the blinds you
bought are a perfect fit.
They are experts in their field with a
huge amount of experience to draw on.
In fact, all their staff has been on board
for at least 8 years, and many up to 20
years. Whatever the job involves, they
will work hard to make sure it gets done,
including one job of 800 blinds which
they completed in 4 days.
Roast Meal
just $10.50*
*Monday night only. Conditions apply.
✔ Tues Quiz Night
✔ Wed Karaoke ✔ Thurs Live music
✔ Sky Sports ✔ Courtesy Van
✔ Friendly Staff & Atmosphere
Chats Bar
251 Travis Road
QEII Shopping Centre
Ph: 388 1566
Find them at
330 Cashel Street
Call 3770770
email:
service@blindcare.co.nz
or visit blindcare.co.nz