Welcome!

BLOG POST 1

 Welcome to the Moving Through Cancer Blog.  My name is Dr. Kathryn Schmitz.  I started this website as a resource to accompany my book, Moving Through Cancer.  I am an exercise and cancer researcher and advocate and my primary professional mission is that one day, exercise will be standard practice in the setting of oncology, for all people living with and beyond cancer. 

It is my hope that you will find resources in the book and on this website that meet you where you are, whether your current capacity means pride for number of laps around the dining room table yesterday or preparing for your first 10K.  You CAN and SHOULD move at least a little bit every day.  No one benefits from sitting on the couch all day.  The human body was built to be in motion.

Please do not mistake the advice to do 150 min/week of aerobic activity as an excuse to do nothing if that is simply not within your reach.  Perhaps success for you is standing for 5 minutes today, walking for 5 minutes by next week.  That’s HUGE progress.  Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.

I recall one particular participant in one of my studies who came to us very afraid to exercise during her chemotherapy treatments, despite doctor’s advice.  We started her with ONE exercise, daily, for the first 2 weeks (leg extension).  She felt successful doing that, and saw that it did not hurt or overwhelm her.  She trusted us enough to let us add 2 more exercises the next time we saw her.  By one month in, she was doing a full body lifting workout three days weekly and walking every day.  Her symptoms did not get worse with successive rounds of chemotherapy, despite medical expectations.  If you are frightened to do too much, maybe this could be your pattern too.  Choose ONE of the exercises from the chair exercise program or the lift program.  Do just that for a week and see if you feel better or worse.  Add from there. 

Alternatively, you could start with walking around your home, or to the mailbox and back.  Notice if you feel worse afterward, and add laps around your home until you are confident enough to go out for a walk. 

I do know that there are some who will wonder why I would ask so much of someone going through cancer treatment.  The answer is simple:  If you don’t, I can guarantee you are going to feel a lot older after treatment than you do now.  Exercising during your treatment could prevent or lessen that effect.  One step at a time.  No marathon running I promise.  Just some good walking shoes and a few heavy objects to lift.

If you still wonder whether the material on this website and in my book are meant for you, ask your doctors and nurses:  Is it safe for me to exercise?  Is it a good idea for me to exercise?  Then come back to this website and let’s get started. 

Yours in health –

Katie