POULSBO — Peninsula Breast Center has launched Survive & Thrive, a health and fitness program for cancer patients.

The center completed a successful three-month pilot program, with 12 women participating.

According to the centerm, there was a need for a health and fitness program for people who go through cancer treatment to help them achieve and maintain a healthy bodyweight, which can reduce recurrent breast cancer rates by as much as 24 percent. The center will expand its program to include male patients in the near future.

Survive & Thrive is a three-month program that is offered three times a year. The program’s goals for participants include: increased energy, overall increase in strength and flexibility, improved emotional well-being, weight loss, and support from others with similar challenges and goals.

The tools used to achieve those goals include: memberships to Poulsbo Athletic Club and Kitsap CrossFit during the program, weekend walks with Survive & Thrive board members, nutrient education and potluck dinners.

Survive & Thrive board members include: Peninsula Cancer Center director and radiation oncologist Berit L. Madsen, M.D.; Sheila Lally, D.O., breast surgeon; nurse practitioner Denise L. Bundow, ARNP; Survive & Thrive patient liaison Lisa Miller; oncology massage therapist Mary Briner, LMP, CMLDT; Kitsap CrossFit owners Dan and Amy Hollingsworth; Poulsbo Athletic Club owner and physical therapist Wade Zinn; Kitsap Cancer Services executive director Jackie Smaha; nurse practitioner Ann Asher; communications consultant Jane Lindley; and Group Health business analyst Diane DiGleria, project manager for Survive & Thrive.

Participants made the most of their trial memberships. “We saw over 160 participant visits within the 12 week period at Poulsbo Athletic Club,” Zinn said.

Peninsula Breast Center was co-founded by Madsen  and Lally. The center is located at 19917 7th Ave., Poulsbo.