Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022

Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the YMCA

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The YMCA of Central New York is honored to share a variety of in-person and virtual resources to support those impacted by this disease. Here at the Y, we strive to support all of our members in body, mind, and spirit—at all stages of life and recovery. We hope these resources will be supportive to survivors, those who care for them, and all people looking to learn more about breast cancer.   

Please join us for:   

  • live virtual seminars with expert community partners from the American Cancer Society and Hematology Oncology Associates (HOA) of CNY;  

  • in-person programs from Laurie's Hope Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group;  

  • and the RECLAIM: Cancer Exercise Video Series from our friends at the Eugene Family YMCA, watchable as On Demand Videos 24/7 on our Virtual Y Website.   

For more information about all of our programs this October, please read below. For more information about our ongoing Laurie’s Hope Breast Cancer Survivor Support group, please contact Sue Montminy at smontminy@ymcacny.org, or visit our Cancer Survivors Programs page.   

To learn more about the Virtual Y, please visit ymcacny.org/virtualy or contact virtual@ymcacny.org  

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thursday, October 6, 2022  
“Nutrition & Breast Cancer” with Emily (Kratz) Januseski, RD, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) 
6:00- 7:00PM 
Virtual Event, please register via zoom.  
FREE 

In this interactive virtual seminar, Registered Dietician Emily (Kratz) Januseski  from Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) will review a general healthy recommended diet, common myths, and have time for a Q&A. If possible, please submit questions in advance to virtual@ymcacny.org. This virtual event is FREE and open to all. Please register via zoom.  

 

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 
“Cancer Survivorship” with Tricia Eveleigh, NP, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) 
6:30- 7:30PM 
Virtual Event, please register via zoom.  
FREE 

In this interactive virtual seminar, Nurse Practitioner Tricia Eveleigh from Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) will introduce and discuss “survivorship,” or how people navigate their life experiences and challenges following their cancer diagnosis. Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A. This virtual event is FREE and open to all. Please register via zoom.  

 

Members of Laurie’s Hope are invited to join in-person for a hybrid event at the Kaye Center at the Northwest Family YMCA. This will include an in-person discussion with other Laurie’s Hope participants following the virtual presentation and Q&A. All other members and non-members are invited to join via zoom. If you would like to learn more about Laurie's Hope or our other cancer survivor programs, please click here

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ONGOING CANCER SUPPORT RESOURCES AT THE Y OF CNY  

Did you know?   
Thanks to our donors we're able to provide Cancer Wellness programs at no cost to cancer survivors.    

Laurie's Hope  
A program supported by the Saint Agatha Foundation, helps breast cancer survivors thrive by maintaining physical fitness and strength; improving their diets; and helping them make connections with other breast cancer survivors. With a strong emphasis on improved social support, interventions are individually designed to strengthen survivors’ support networks, both inside and outside of the YMCA. If you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, reach out to Sue Montminy (smontminy@ymcacny.org) for more information on how to get started.  

Hope & Heal  
Just started!  We now offer a Breast Cancer Support Group (Hope & Heal). This group meets once a month at 2 locations.  We're a safe place where survivors can celebrate their victories, share their stories, journey, concerns, and discoveries, before, during and after treatment. We come together for a common goal: to help others! Meetings are held at Hal Welsh East Area YMCA (Fayetteville) and Northwest Family YMCA (Baldwinsville). Contact Sue Montminy (smontminy@ymcacny.org) for more information to join.  

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA 
This 12-week exercise and group support program focuses on improving the survivor’s strength, fitness, and quality of life. In addition to physical benefits, the program also focuses on the emotional well-being of survivors and their families. It provides a supportive community where people impacted by cancer can connect during treatment and beyond. 
 
For registration forms, please contact Stephanie Michaels, Healthy Living Director, for Intake and Medical Release forms. 

The Kaye Center for Cancer Wellness 
The Kaye Center for Cancer Wellness, located in our Northwest Family Y branch, is designed to meet the specific needs of men and women battling cancer by offering them a comfortable environment to socialize, exercise, and recharge. It includes a reading area, a small waterfall, a gathering space, a small exercise area, a balcony and a meditation room. One of the first such spaces of its kind, it is becoming a model among YMCAs nationally. 

Prime Time Plus 
We offer our child care support service to participants in our cancer survivor programs who need childcare to attend appointments or treatment. Participants can bring their children to our Hal Welsh East Area Family Y, North Area Family Y, and Northwest Family Y branches to enjoy activities free of charge. Registration is required. 

Please contact our participating branches to learn more: 

Hal Welsh East Area Family Y 
North Area Family Y 
Northwest Family Y 

 

ON DEMAND VIDEOS  

RECLAIM: Cancer Exercise Video Series on The Virtual Y, produced by the Eugene Family YMCA  
Watch here now (Member Link)  

A message from our friends at the Eugene Family YMCA (nonmember link):  

Here at the Y, we know that staying active and reducing stress is sometimes easier said than done when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Whether you are on our LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA  waitlist, immunocompromised or struggling to balance work and family life, our new RECLAIM: Cancer Exercise Video Series is here for you to use from the comfort and safety of your own home, on your own schedule. These videos draw from our specially trained instructors' experience working with survivors over the last five years and include proven post-treatment exercise and self-care content. We would like to thank Texas 4000 and the Turell Group for giving us this opportunity to serve more people in our community in new and meaningful ways.   

The series includes:  

  • Warm-up and Cool-down   

  • Balance, Stretch and Range-of-Motion Workout  

  • 3 Guided Meditations with Nancy Hopps  

  • Cardio and Dance Workouts  

  • Two Full Body Strength Workouts (resistance tubes & weights)  

  • Two Lymphedema Exercise Videos (upper & lower body)  

Watch these videos anytime on the Virtual Y. To easily access these videos whenever you want through our Virtual Y, select the “RECLAIM: Cancer Exercise Video Series” from “Categories”. Favorite this category by selecting the heart icon next to each category or video.