Healing Through Exercise
- When part-time deputy sheriff Kerri Gortmaker, 36, received news that she had breast cancer, her first three words were “Okay, now what?” The CrossFit gym owner was immediately ready to fight.
- Kerri used physical activity to help heal from her physical and emotional wounds, which included a double mastectomy. Now, she is inspiring other survivors to combat post-cancer body image issues with some workouts.
- We know that exercising helps strengthen your heart and is good for your overall sense of well-being. It probably sounds counter-intuitive to be exercising during chemotherapy or undergoing radiation, but getting out and getting some sort of exercise–no matter how hard it seems at the time–will help. Keeping even a little bit active helps alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy.
Wasting no time, the CrossFit gym owner was immediately ready to fight … and didn’t want to hear any sad stories along the way.
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“We would just go for a walk, took a lap around our property. At the very least, just keep moving so I wasn’t just laying around all day,” she said, acknowledging her moments of sadness and anger—though overall, she just tried to keep a positive mindset.
Fear, Anger, Anxiety – You’re Entitled To Your Emotions
Kerri’s happy place is her gym. She started doing CrossFit in 2017, and then became part-owner of the club just a couple years later.
Now, she is using her love of fitness to inspire other women to bounce back after breast cancer, and even spearheaded a Barbells for Boobs fundraiser at the Sheyenne River CrossFit near her Walcott, North Dakota home on Sunday, Oct. 23.
The organization stresses the importance of physical activity when healing from breast cancer.
Research shows that exercise can lower your risk of breast cancer and also help you cope better with treatment if you’ve already been diagnosed.
Furthermore, it’s about building self-confidence—and healing physically and emotionally after cancer.
Related: My Confidence Was Destroyed: Dealing With Body Image During Cancer Treatment
“We women all have such negative self-talk. But once you realize you can do it, and then do it again and again and you keep that consistency,” she said. “Yeah, that confidence just continues to build and it’s phenomenal.”
SurvivorNetTV Presents ‘SN & You – Body Image Embracing Your Body’
Body Image and Cancer
Unfortunately, cancer treatment often alters the way someone looks … even though a lot of those changes are temporary, it can be really hard to live with during treatment. “My confidence was gone,” says Jaclyn Kaczynski, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 years old and found it really threw her body image off track. “My confidence was destroyed. I was always vain about my appearance and my weight, let alone losing a breast, or both.”
Jaclyn says that she gained a lot of weight during treatment, and that, combined with losing her breasts, really did a number on how she felt about her own body. A lot of women struggle to feel like themselves again after breast cancer treatment. Members of the SurvivorNet community also tell us that deciding between reconstruction or embracing a life without breasts is a really tough decision. While many women decide to “go flat,” others simply don’t feel like themselves after surgery.
In Jaclyn’s case, she went the reconstruction route. “I just had my reconstructive surgery … my favorite doctor was able to make it happen for me. It’s amazing how much more confidence I have … my hair is growing back, for real.” Jaclyn says she’s feeling so good about herself she’s even starting to date again – “I’m keeping my options open.”
Exercise and Cancer Prevention
We know that exercising helps strengthen your heart and is good for your overall sense of well-being. It probably sounds counter-intuitive to be exercising during chemotherapy or undergoing radiation, but getting out and getting some sort of exercise–no matter how hard it seems at the time–will help. Keeping even a little bit active helps alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy.
Related: Exercise Can Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk
You could even seek out programs geared for breast cancer patients, like yoga, which will help motivate you and ensure you’re staying engaged with the outside world. Plus, it benefits you spiritually, as it allows you to reflect inward on your spiritual state to relieve any internal tension that could reside from your diagnosis.
The great thing is that even if you’re resistant to exercise, it comes in so many different forms that finding one you enjoy can only heighten the positive effects. Hiking, biking, walking, dancing, and other enjoyable activities are all considered exercise, so get out there and find the one that speaks to you! You’ll be glad you did and will feel the benefits of your healthy new-found hobby almost immediately.
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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