Providing Physical Therapy-Based Education & Resources Before, During & After Breast Cancer Treatments.
Welcome!
Just about everyone will be anxious about upcoming and ongoing medical treatments for their breast cancer. Frequently, my patients tell me that during medical treatments, they put their heads down and push through whatever care is needed to beat or control their cancer. During that timeframe, they never cry, but they also rarely laugh. They never start to grieve the life that they thought they would be living before their diagnosis, but they also stop experiencing the joys of their lives. Instead of risking feeling fear and uncertainty, they completely shut themselves down to feeling anything at all. My hope for you is that you choose bravery over inaction — that you allow yourself to feel the hard emotions, even when it is uncomfortable or feels like it will take more energy than you have. If you can do that, and be vulnerable to scary feelings like shock, anger, fear, and worry, you’ll also open yourself up to feeling love, gratitude, joy, and delight — all the best parts of life, and the very reasons to keep on fighting.
Jodi Winicour, PT, CMT, CLT-LANA
Our Mission
To deliver impactful education to those with breast cancer to ease anxiety, take control of emotion, and inspire self-investment for enhanced and accelerated healing and recovery.
Our Vision in Action
Laugh - Embracing humor and lightheartedness to facilitate deep learning and uplift spirits in the darkest of times.
Cry - Acknowledging grief, fear, uncertainty, and sadness as part of the healing process.
Learn - Educating to take control of physical and emotional well-being and recovery with empowering self-efficacy.
Feel - Encouraging deep emotional connection, vulnerability, and self-awareness.
Heal - Providing the resources and support to facilitate true recovery mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Who Leads BrCAcademy?
Jodi Winicour is a licensed physical therapist, certified massage therapist, and nationally certified lymphatic therapist with over 30 years of experience. With more than 25 years of working with cancer patients, along with her own struggles with chronic pain and her preventive mastectomies in 2017, Jodi offers a unique perspective on cancer care, pain education, and healing. As an educator, Jodi has trained thousands of physical, occupational, and massage therapists to care for those with breast cancer and lymphedema here in the United States and abroad. Her in-person and online presentations are engaging, exciting, and memorable. Her quick wit keeps the content light and enjoyable, while her compassion for patients (often informed by her own experiences) makes the material relevant, relatable, and real.
Lynne H
Jodi is more than a skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated physical therapist; she is my teacher, taking the time to explain what’s going on with my body and discussing the treatment options. She is my emotional support person, my protector and advocate, my cohort in humor through dark times. We can discuss tough topics with openness, clarity and empathy. She gets it. She has a heart that extends way past the clinical aspects of physical therapy. She’s the one you want on your team when navigating the trials of breast cancer.
Denise K
Jodi has been instrumental in my breast cancer recovery. She put me at ease right away and understands the emotional challenges that a breast cancer diagnosis brings. She taught me both the psychological elements of healing as well as the physical techniques needed to regain my strength and mobility. She is highly skilled and knowledgeable in her practice. At each session she focused on giving me practical and empowering mindset shifts to aid in my healing. I highly recommend Jodi for anyone needing oncologic physical therapy support.
Jennie B
Jodi is not only an extremely competent and knowledgeable PT, she is a stellar human to boot. The empathy, positivity and deep wellspring of knowledge that she brings to every session builds a strong foundation for healing. She has been critical in helping me regain mobility and function following my breast cancer surgeries. The opportunity she has given me to feel a bit more like my pre-cancer self has brought immense peace of mind. The fun she brings to every session lifts my spirits. I am deeply grateful to have been referred to her and to have her on my care team