For the eighth year in a row, Flagstaff Medical Center’s Therapy Services Department has received a grant from the Phoenix Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The $47,400 grant will provide treatment to those who suffer with lymphedema, a painful side effect of breast cancer treatment.

Additionally, grant funds will be used to provide massages for people undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and those who live in remote areas can receive help with gas and lodging so they can attend their treatment sessions.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, affecting one out of every eight women. Lymphedema, a side effect of some of the treatments, occurs in approximately 20 percent of breast cancer survivors. Symptoms include swelling, loss of motion and/or pain, in the arms or chest. Although lymphedema is not curable, treatment by physical and occupational therapists can help improve symptoms.

Recent studies show that people with severe illnesses, such as cancer, benefit from massage therapy resulting in decreased pain and improved feelings of well-being which helps them gain the best benefit from their cancer treatment. 

The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure serves Central and Northern Arizona, and has a volunteer base of more than 1,500. Since 1993, the Phoenix Affiliate has granted more than $16 million to breast cancer treatment, including the treatment of lymphedema, education, prevention and outreach programs in addition to breast cancer research. 

FMC’s Therapy Services Department is devoted to helping patients maximize their quality of live through treatment options, education and support.

For more information about the grant or how to access the funds, call Lori Pearlmutter, FMC Therapy Services director, at 928 214-3519. For more information on programs and services offered through FMC’s Therapy Services, visit FlagstaffMedicalCenter.com.