“Fit for Life”

I need to start with two points. First, it is very difficult to find a title with the word “fit” in it that hasn’t already been used! Wow! Second, I am humbled and honored that folks still want to hear from me. I received an email yesterday from someone I do not know, but who follows my blog, asking for an update. Since I just had my bone marrow biopsy yesterday, I won’t have the results back for a week or so. And my labs revealed that my red blood cells have not recovered since my last chemo. It has now been six months…plenty of time. So they took some additional blood to run further tests along those lines. They may want to do a colonoscopy. ☹ More on that next week.

For now, I will share the importance of fitness and exercise throughout the cancer/stem cell journey. First of all, it’s hard! It’s hard when you’re healthy!! It’s compounded when you have cancer or have gone through some sort of treatment. At least, it has been for me. The fatigue that often accompanies cancer is not a good partner with exercise. But if you yield completely to the fatigue, it will overtake you and only get worse. You must move.

While I was in the hospital for my stem cell transplant, there were regular “exercise” classes that we were encouraged to attend. It was mainly to promote movement and help regain (or not continue to lose) strength. Once home, it was much more difficult to continue the routine on my own. I was fairly consistent with my stretching, but my strength was waning.

After the CAR T-Cell trial, my joints felt as if I had been run over by a CAR! After trying a shot in one knee that didn’t last for long, the doctor prescribed physical therapy including aquatic therapy. After two sessions per week for eight weeks, I was just beginning to feel a measure of improvement. They had also given me exercises to do at home, which I did fairly well. I wanted very much to feel better, to get stronger!! With my sessions coming to an end, the PT suggested that I join a gym, remembering to use all that I had learned. And so I did.

As most folks who know me well will attest, I don’t do anything half way. I jump in with both feet. The same has held true with my gym membership. For the first three weeks, I went every weekday, alternating between the aquatic class and the circuit training machines and bike. I have pushed myself as far as I am able. Many of you heavy hitters would grin at the light weight levels I’m on, but it’s all I can handle right now. And I’ve already seen improvement in some areas. My sweet hubby thinks I may be overdoing it a bit and suggested that I take a day off during the week. ☺ But right now, I feel like this is my job…to work at getting my body strong enough to handle whatever gets thrown at it next. And strong enough to enjoy the life and people I love! (I am having to take a short break after this BMB, however.)

I chose the title “Fit for Life” for two reasons. One, I have to be mindful of my body (how I care for it, what I put in it) to help prolong my life. We all do. Some of us are just a bit more reminded of it on a daily basis. Two, I read the book “Fit for Life” probably 35 years ago when I was in college and have tried to base my eating lifestyle primarily on their principles. It has worked well for me…except for the whole leukemia thing! ☺

While I get frustrated with my slow progress in the gym, I am proud of myself for going. I am also very proud of my sweet friend and childhood cancer survivor, Deena, who is training for the big LLS run in October. She is so strong. She has come so far. She is an inspiration to me to keep fighting, keep moving forward, keep believing, keep expecting just a little more of myself because one day, God willing, I’ll not only be able to bend down again, I’ll be able to run! Well, maybe just walk really well. ☺


“Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
and throwing off everything that hinders us
and especially the sin that so easily entangles us,
let us keep running with endurance the race set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1