Catherine: The healing power of movement: Embracing exercise during and after chemotherapy
Different cancers require different treatments, and in my case that treatment was R-CHOP chemotherapy followed by intravenous Methotrexate aimed at the brain area. I had stage four cancer which means the cancer had spread from where it started to other parts of the body (also known as metastatic cancer). As many people will know, this is not much fun, and symptoms of treatment include risk of infection, bruising and bleeding, anaemia, feeling sick, loss of appetite, feeling exhausted, hair loss, sore mouth and throat, bone pain and more. It would be easy, and entirely forgivable, to crawl under a blanket and hide away, and believe me, sometimes that's all I wanted to do.
However, there was one thing which made me feel a little bit better. And when I was doing it, I'd sometimes go close to feeling okay. It was exercise outdoors. In my weakest moments that consisted of nothing more than a few steps outside to feel the sunshine on my face. In my stronger moments I was able to walk around the block or even further. I'd listen to the birds, feel the breeze, feel the heat or the cold on my skin, look at the sky and feel the movement of my body and the tethering to the earth of being alive. Nothing made me feel as alive as moving my body in an outdoor environment.
There's obviously a personal emotional and psychological side to how I felt about exercising outdoors during treatment, but there's also plenty of evidence to support the idea that this may work for everyone, regardless of their personality, emotional state or type of cancer or type of treatment. My personal discoveries align with a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that exercise improves physical function by helping to maintain muscle strength and cardiovascular health, which chemotherapy compromises. It reduces side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and a decline in mental health. It enhances mood by releasing endorphins and can support the immune system, which is crucial when it's compromised by chemotherapy.
Having survived both my cancer and my treatment, the transition to life after chemotherapy was challenging. In this regard, exercise served as a powerful tool for improving my mental health, reducing my symptoms of depression, and anxiety, and enhancing my overall quality of life. Exercise aided in my recovery, helping to rebuild strength and endurance. I found that a combination of yoga and meditation helped to ease my anxiety and the occasional panic attack, and the walking helped to improve my physical and mental feeling of being in control of my own body and my own life. Control over my own health was something I was anxious to regain, having felt that I was at the mercy first of my cancer and then of my treatment, even though I understood that everything that was done treatment-wise was solely for my benefit.
It's important not to over-tax your body, so consulting with a healthcare provider before starting any exercise regimen during or after chemotherapy is key, and it's best to start with low-intensity activities, like walking or yoga, and gradually increase intensity based on individual strength and recovery pace. Always listen to and trust your own body! If you don't feel you can do it yet, don't do it.
I found that exercise ultimately gave me hope and a feeling of empowerment. Integrating exercise into your treatment and recovery plan can certainly be a way to enhance physical and mental wellbeing. For me it was a lifeline during the most difficult times, and a powerful way to bring my body back towards health, slowly, and over many years, to the point where I now believe I'm truly fit and active. I now enjoy competing in triathlons and rowing regattas and am grateful for the role that exercise has played in my journey. Everyone's journey is different of course, but I hope exercise may play some role in helping you too, even if it's just in a small way. In the darkest days, sometimes it's the smallest of lights that keep us going.
