NJ Mother Develops Program that Allows Patients to Leave Cancer at the Door & Move On

As a breast cancer survivor, Lockey Maisonneuve, has a very different approach to Personal Training. Known for going above and beyond to develop unique programs for her clients, it was no surprise that she would develop a program that specifically addresses the needs of her fellow breast cancer survivors.

Knowing what her needs were post-treatment, for both body and mind, and then working with other survivors, Lockey was able to develop a program that enables women to not only return to their pre-diagnosis levels of fitness, but to also re-build their self-esteem and self-confidence.

 The program is appropriately called MovingOn.  

MovingOn utilizes group fitness and exercise to strengthen and stretch muscles that have been directly and indirectly affected by the disease and the treatment.  But that’s just one of the goals.

Maissonneuve believes that placing survivors in a setting with others in the same situation also enables them to move on from cancer patient to cancer survivor.

Participants can see that their physical and emotional situations are not unique.  The rehabilitative exercise program in a group setting creates a community of support that they may not find in other survivor programs.

With the number of survivors increasing every year, the need for survivor programs has grown.  Typical post treatment exercise programs begin at the hospital through the physical therapy department. Then survivors are encouraged to continue their physical activities at other facilities. The true key to the success in the physical and emotional recovery of the survivors is the strategy of combining the two levels. Unfortunately, most patients do not continue to the next level after the initial therapy at the hospital. There were no survivor programs that met this need—until now! 

MovingOn programs support the patient by providing both levels.  The level one class, conducted at the hospital, will always have patients just out of treatment in a class with others in a similar place in their recovery. With the second level at a near-by facility, the program continues to develop and sustain the activities with the participants with the added benefits of the support of fellow survivors working together.

MovingOn programs combine corrective exercise that address' the specific needs of a breast cancer survivor and the emotional support of a traditional support group.  Through exercise and conversation participants gain control back over their bodies, rebuild their lives and become TRUE survivors. 

The program is hosted by the Breast Cancer Support Group at RWJ Rahway and features certified Personal Trainer Lockey Maisonneuve, a breast cancer survivor who is certified as a cancer exercise specialist. She is the founder of MovingOn, a rehabilitation exercise program founded in 2009 to support and empower others during and after their treatment. Ms. Maisonneuve has taken her exercise programs to hospitals, community centers and health clubs throughout New Jersey.  

The program is free, but seating limited. Please register by calling 732-499-6193. The RWJ Rahway Breast Cancer support group meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:45 pm at the RWJ Rahway Fitness & Wellness Center, located at 2120 Lambert Mill Road, Scotch Plains.

To learn more about MovingOn and their services log onto www.movingonfromcancer.com <http://www.movingonfromcancer.com.

About the Instructor- 

Lockey Maissonneuve began her fitness career in 2004 as a personal trainer.  In 2006, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Lockey underwent chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomies, radiation and saline implant reconstruction.  She found first-hand the importance of exercise for both physical rehabilitation as well as emotional well-being.  Ms. Maisssonneuve serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital.  Her certifications include: Certified Personal Trainer through the National Association of Sports Medicine and Cancer Exercise Specialist through the Cancer Exercise Training Institute.

Presently MovingOn programs have been conducted in hospitals, community centers, and health clubs throughout New Jersey. Lockey hopes that the success of this program locally will enable it to grow to help survivors across the nation.  One day she would like to expand MovingOn by developing programs for survivors of other types of cancer.