{"id":1517,"date":"2014-06-07T20:26:40","date_gmt":"2014-06-07T20:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/liveyourlifept.com\/?p=1517"},"modified":"2014-06-07T20:26:40","modified_gmt":"2014-06-07T20:26:40","slug":"national-cancer-survivors-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liveyourlifept.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/07\/national-cancer-survivors-day\/","title":{"rendered":"National Cancer Survivors Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

June 2nd<\/sup> was National Cancer Survivors Day. Below is what my good friend\/physical therapist, Sandy Marden-Lokken, PT, Ed. D.
\n\"Sandywrote about her experience as a cancer survivor and her perspective on the importance of exercise. She has been an inspiration for me. Her cancer survival inspired and motivated me to train and complete my first triathlon in 2010. The photo you see here is a picture of us after crossing the finish line. Sandy is on the left and I am on the right.<\/p>\n

I asked her to write something as a guest blogger for my regular blog and, while it\u2019s after the actual day itself, I truly believe that every day is a celebration for those who have survived cancer. I hope you enjoy her heartfelt and informative piece that she wrote for me. Here is her story\u2026<\/p>\n

Beating Cancer \u2013 How Exercise Was So Important To My Victory<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being diagnosed with cancer doesn’t have to significantly interrupt an individual’s routines. Yes, it’s a life changing event but it doesn’t have to define one’s life. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2005. Exercise has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I didn’t want to have chemotherapy significantly disrupt what I enjoyed doing and it didn’t; however, I learned a lot through my experience.<\/p>\n

The first thing I learned was patience. I needed to know how the chemotherapy would affect me physically and then adapt my exercise schedule around the chemo schedule. I learned I couldn’t exercise the day of chemo and had to do light exercise (walking) the day after chemo. Then, I could ease into my regular routine the next two days. I was lucky enough to have chemo every three weeks so my body was able to adjust. Yes, I found if I pushed exercise too fast or too hard, I paid the price. But, once learned, I adjusted. I also had good friends that had tips to deal with the side effects of the chemo drugs. I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t have exercised at all. It made me feel normal for most of the days. I opted not to wear a wig when I lost my hair which made exercise a bit easier. My fashion choice was which color bandana I would wear.<\/p>\n

\u00a0As a physical therapist, movement is important to me. It was especially important during the chemotherapy. Everyone needs to determine what works for them but the take home message I have for all is to find what works at whatever level<\/em>. Be patient with yourself as you determine what works. Finally, be flexible: even though I received the same chemo every time, the after effects weren’t always the same.<\/em> Enjoy life!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sandy Marden-Lokken, PT, Ed. D.<\/p>\n

Realizing how much strength Sandy took from her ability to continue to exercise made me realize how important of a factor exercising is to healing. I always knew that exercise was important to healing from things like injuries and surgeries; however, I never really thought about the affect it has on healing and conquering cancer until Sandy made me realize how it important it was for her. It was, as many say, an \u201caha\u201d moment for me that I felt the need to share with others.<\/p>\n

Why Is Exercise So Important in Cancer Survivorship?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is a well known fact that exercise or physical activity releases endorphins in the brain. These endorphins are like a mental \u201chigh\u201d and actually make a person feel better. Physical activity is a critical component of energy balance<\/em>. Energy balance is a term that researchers use to describe how various things such as diet, weight, and physical activity influence a person\u2019s overall health.[1] So it is of no surprise that while battling and recovering from cancer these endorphins play a vital role.<\/p>\n

Some roles that exercise plays in reducing cancer risk, fighting cancer successfully, and living a healthy lifestyle as a survivor include:<\/p>\n