NEW and IMPROVED

By Jennifer Looney Head and Neck Cancer Survivor

As I sit to type this piece, my arms are feeling the burn from a recent workout. A brief ten minutes and my mood transformed using tiny, black weights of only two pounds. Exercise provides an endorphin boost superior to any caffeine shot or pharmaceutical aid available. We survivors have the ability to awaken our natural pain relievers with movement. This is the medicine upon which I choose to depend.

Funny thing about healing is, healing hurts. This concept was unfamiliar to me before receiving a diagnosis of head and neck cancer a year and a half ago. Being physically fit and able to perform athletically does not have to be erased because I have cancer. I can educate myself and slowly navigate the highs and lows of survivorship. With radiation and chemotherapy treatments in the rear view mirror, I now get to rebuild this body that has become somewhat foreign to me. “Get to” instead of “have to” is the way I prefer to tackle life. I made it to the healing step armed with a body that allowed me to survive. It deserves the very best!

I know I am not alone, feeling like a lab rat, fielding big SAT words from oncologists, while learning how my labs and scans measure up each round. Thankfully, the team of professionals employed to improve my health (more like save my life) are focused on the scientific reports. Much of my focus is directed to activities not measured on a medical chart: exercise, muscle strength and movement required for longevity.

Thanks to radiation therapy, my balance was wrecked, my strength was shot and my confidence was absent. Employing a fitness routine was a challenge. However, steadily I became empowered to persevere. Short rides on a stationary bike elevated my mood, while building muscle in my legs. Countless times I fell down trying to hold yoga poses too soon after treatment. Eventually I achieved vestibular success, which was a gigantic personal breakthrough. Little successes are what I collected. With each workout, my appetite increased, helping fuel my body to become stronger. I have finally developed a routine that works for me in the privacy of our home, with little equipment. What works for you?

Fitness is as critical to our mental health as it is to our physical health. After feeling rotten for untold months, exercise makes me feel outstanding. Granted, baby steps are definitely necessary to build strength after cancer treatment. Communication with doctors is a must. As the proverb goes, slow and steady wins the race. But as I become new and improved, it enhances my ability to get to experience life fully with cherished family and friends. “Wait for Mom” is becoming a thing of the past. Excuse me, while I proudly move to the front of the pack. It is not always easy, this new body to rebuild, but what a privilege it is to put one foot in front of the other with intention. When you are ready, give yourself the best prescription you can—movement.