Lisa May Story
from powerpilates website
This is something we’re asking the entire Pilates community to embrace. Lisa May’s story of surviving breast cancer gives new voice to Joseph Pilates legacy. She is a stunning example of how “Movement Heals.”
Dr. Howard Sichel
President, Power Pilates
In February of 2006, Lisa May, a Pilates studio owner and Power Pilates teacher trainer, visited her OB-Gyn for her annual checkup, and was surprised when her doctor paused during the breast exam. “What’s this?” asked her doctor, pressing on a small mass in her left breast. Lisamay reminded her that this was the lump she had always had, since High School. But the doctor, always attentive, said, “It’s different.”
As it turned out, the difference was that under the familiar lump there had grown a tumor, which was determined to be malignant through an extensive needle biopsy. The first diagnosis, absent of any pathology, was a DCIS tumor, stage 0. In 2005, there were over 50,000 of these types of breast tumors diagnosed, and there are many courses of treatment. What to do about a diagnosis like this is a very personal decision to be made based on a wide variety of criteria. Lisa May carefully considered her own age, her attitude toward surgery, her responsibilities to her three small boys, and decided to have a double mastectomy.
The surgery was a success in the sense that all of the cancer was removed, the margins of the tumor were clear, and her body responded well to the surgery – so much so that she was back teaching Pilates within 5 days. After three cesarean deliveries, and now this, Lisa May found that there was only one real post-surgical treatment that worked for her – movement.
When the pathology of the tumor came back from the lab, it was quickly determined that in fact, Lisa May’s cancer was of an invasive nature, which elevated her illness to Stage “2”. Again, there are many courses of treatment for this stage, and again, Lisa May carefully considered her own nature before agreeing to a course of chemotherapy.
From all she had read and learnd from family and friends, Lisa May realized that the side effects from chemotherapy could well be worse than those from the surgery. The words from her mentor, Power Pilates founder Dr. Howard Sichel, echoed through her mind as she considered the next twelve weeks – “…Movement Heals.”
This proved to be the case. At the time of this writing, Lisa May is halfway through a 12-week course of chemotherapy. Although she was prescribed a battery of medications to combat the numerous side effects, she has taken none of them. Her oncologist placed her in a group “ … of about ½ of 1% of chemotherapy patients.” Even the most difficult and untreatable of side effects – fatigue, she has thus far eluded. She attributes most of this to Pilates, and the concept of moving the body in order to heal. She believes this not in some abstract, esoteric sense, but as she says, “It’s very simple – I feel good when I do Pilates. When I feel fatigue, I work out. And I feel better. As the saying goes, ‘Movement Heals!’”
To the amazement of Howard and the Power Pilates team, Lisa May was able to complete her Power Pilates Teacher Training Program during this time. “Lisa’s spirit and steadfast determination to finish what she started, despite her diagnosis, inspired our entire staff. I am honored that she found a special meaning in” Movement Heals” but we at Power Pilates are more honored to have her as part of our family. I have no doubt she will inspire teachers and students alike for years to come.”
Power Pilates has teamed up with T-shirt company Pilates Classic to help spread this simple, but effective concept. A donation of 15% of the purchase price per T-shirt will be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Shirts may be purchased exclusively through Pilates Classic and Power Pilates. To read updates about Lisa May’s journey and find out more about breast cancer, please visit www.pilatesclassic.com or www.powerpilatesonline.com
פילאטיס ברשת דרור רז, הרשת הגדולה והמקצועית בישראל לשיטת פילאטיס.
