SGO Wellness: How I Gained the Lead Against Recurrent Cervical Cancer | Linda Ryan
Linda Ryan, Patient Advocate
Having never been an athlete or participated in organized sports, it’s surprising that exercise has played a significant role in my cervical cancer journey. There are obvious physical benefits of exercise, but it gave me a mental muscle to help get through the tough times. Walking was my primary exercise after having children, which led to running. When I say running, my run was slower than others walked, but it was something.
After months of training, I completed a marathon at 43 years old. Four weeks after the marathon, I found an enlarged lymph node in my neck that would change my life. It was my first recurrence of early-stage cervical cancer that had been diagnosed seven years prior. While participating in a clinical trial for the recurrence, I asked my gynecologic oncologist if it would be ok to continue running, not only because it gave my body strength, but it gave me incredible mental strength. Her response was to keep moving as much as possible. While facing a bone scan prior to treatment, I went on a very short and slow run. I remember thinking that every step I took was making my bones stronger and, if cancer wanted to take up residence, it wouldn’t be welcome. It gave me control in the mental game against cancer.
Eventually I stopped running but did start working out with weights. My goal wasn’t lifting heavy weights; I wanted to be toned. I knew the importance of strength as I aged relative to continued mobility and reduced risk of falls.
During my sixth recurrence involving two surgeries, ten rounds of chemotherapy, and thirty radiation treatments, exercise became nearly non-existent. I spoke to my physician about fatigue and was told that exercise could help. At this point, I was just tired and gave into it with the mindset that “this too shall pass,” but knew I needed to move to feel better mentally. I was open to my doctor’s suggestion that I try to exercise because I knew from history that I would feel better faster. Had I not felt the benefit of exercise in the past, I wonder if I would have heeded the advice. When I talk with other patients, I encourage them to walk as much as they can, even if it’s to the mailbox and back. While it may not be significant in distance, it still can give a sense of accomplishment, power, and control– all things that we often lose as cancer patients.
After the surgeries and during chemotherapy, I wanted to start exercising again, but I had zero energy to figure out what exercise I could and would be motivated to do. I had no desire to run, and weights weren’t realistic, so I found a local Pilates studio. I had never done Pilates, but it seemed “gentler” and more doable than anything I had previously done. I went to classes between treatments but lacked consistency. When treatment was over, I struggled to get back to an exercise routine but craved it in some way. I now attend Pilates three to four days a week and work my schedule around it.
During treatment I’ve often pushed myself to walk when exercise in general seems overwhelming. Patients know that cancer isn’t just a physical challenge, but it requires mental strength and fortitude. Exercise has given me the edge over cancer that I’ve used to get through the difficult times.
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Linda Ryan is a patient advocate in DeLand, FL.