What impact have sports or exercise had on your cancer experience?

Exercise was key in maintaining my already hectic life and with multiple myeloma. It was important to add weight training and full range of motion exercises to give my body an extra push. In regards to sports well that can be tricky because it may depend on the sport to play around with. I did make an effort with rollerskating but was so uncomfortable with the thought of a fall that I eased the idea of revisiting that. It really depends...

I have tried to exercise on a consistent basis. Walking seems to work the best however, I tend to run fevers and run out of gas much earlier in the day on the days I exercise. I try to do it in the afternoons, but sometimes it keeps me up at night. It’s been a challenge, but I know it’s important to exercise for my mental health, and to keep the blood moving. Yoga is my first go to but again it can knock me down. I have multiple myeloma in the smoldering stage. I’m thinking it’s the low IGA’s.

My sport is dance. I am a dancer/choreographer. Which is also my exercise. It gives me such gratification and peace. Plus allows me to still feel "normal" LOL!

I've always been a regular walker my whole life and am very lucky to live in a place of physical beauty with so many nature trails abound. My favorite exercise though is something that was on my "bucket list" to learn. So one day four years ago I set out to do it. Sculling. Once I was coordinated enough to move my body and the oars and glide across the water with grace I knew I was hooked on this sport. I was so inspired that I started a physical support group called "Rowing to Recovery" and there are several of us affected by cancer who scull together 1-3 times a week weather dependent. You may not know, but rowing utilizes 86% of your muscles and I swear the other 14% is used in smiling.