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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 11, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Taking back control after a battle with cancer T hey are shedding the stigma of being sick and taking control back into their own hands as they hit the heated floor ready to exercise overlooking the pond at Oak Park. Behind them is Wellspring Halton-Peel, which is paying attention to recent research that indicates rehab is as big a part of overcoming cancer as any other illness. And once again, Wellspring is out in front. As of January at Wellspring Halton-Peel -- and this month at Wellspring Chinguacousy in Brampton -- cancer exercise programs have started. People who are undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment can attend and already there are waiting lists for the 10-week programs. It begins with an individual assessment with physiotherapist and kinesiologist Jodi Steele who crafts an individual program for each person. Then, the person attends at Wellspring for one hour, twice a week for 10 weeks. There are eight people per class and there are five classes that run at Wellspring. There is no charge -- Wellspring, which fundraises to support itself, has provided the budget. The participants can take their exercise program home when the program ends and there is a six-month follow up to see if they're continuing finished, she said. "It makes me feel good about myself to do this," said McAleer, adding it's helping her regain strength, sleep better and brings awareness of nutrition and physical exercise. "It's not often until we get a scare with our health that we suddenly reevaluate our life and take a look at how we're living our life," said McAleer. Steele likes to look at how people overcoming cancer are living -- and firmly believes that exercise should be part of their lifestyle. Steele likes all the recent research -- particularly that coming out of the U.S. and Germany -- that is underlining the importance of rehab in recovery from cancer -- and in staying cancer-free. Fatigue is the number one complaint from patients with cancer and it can last years for some, she said. Rehab can help and for many, not only is the socialization of the program good for them, but also the feeling like they're taking back control of their treatment. Unlike a gym, Wellspring's facilities accommodate those who may be wearing wigs or have had a mastectomy, so Steele said it's fine to "come with it all hanging out, so to speak." Steele and kinesiologist Becky Smith staff the new Wellspring exercise program and Steele said she believes Wellspring is breaking new ground in offering rehab for patients NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER ROLLING AHEAD WITH REHAB: Janine McAleer gets assistance and has some fun as registered physiotherapist Jodi Steele (right) helps with a workout especially designed for McAleer as she recovers from cancer and its treatment. or if they've fallen off the wagon, laughed Steele. According to Steele, who launched Cancer Rehab in Hamilton in 2005, she's among the few who offer any type of rehab for patients with cancer in Canada. Having lost her own mom, Patricia, to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a decade ago, Steele is a real believer in the good that rehab and fitness can do in the wake of cancer and during treatment. "It makes you feel healthy again and capable of doing activities," said Janine McAleer, a 43-year-old woman from Mississauga who is recovering from breast cancer. The Toronto school board administrator said she did go to the gym prior to being diagnosed and it feels good to get back at it having battled with cancer in the interim. A program focusing on cardio and strength building will be easily replicated at home with hand weights and a stability ball when her program is See Getting page 12