Cancer Survivors?

Hello! Congratulations on the remission! I am so happy for you! I am also a cancer survivor, though most days I still feel like a cancer patient. I wonder when that changes? Anyway. I was diagnosed with stage 3 angiosarcoma in June. I’ve had several surgeries and 4 months of chemotherapy and now two scans with no signs of disease. I’m super happy to be alive. Every minute of everyday.

I lost about 20 pounds through the process and was actually at a healthy weight but have gained it all back plus a couple. I would like to lose the weight again but healthily and intentionally this time. I need some motivation, also! I have always struggled with my weight. I’d love to try and help each other! I am new to the whole forum experience though!

Good luck! You can do this!

♥️Missy

I'm an 18.5 year survivor of stage III breast cancer and treatment (bilateral mastectomies, one simple/one modified radical; 6 months of chemo; 6 weeks of radiation therapy; 7.5 years of anti-estrogen drugs). The breast cancer was diagnosed when I was 44. Right after treatment, I was diagnosed as hypothroid, when my energy level hit a wall while recovering from chemo. It took some time to get the right medication dose for that dialed in.

After treatment, I realized that if I wanted to feel strong, vital and healthy again, I was going to have to work at it. It wasn't going to "just happen".

Over the next year or so, in 2001-2002, I started getting more physically active, beginning with things like yoga, and eventually joining a breast cancer survivors rowing team. I've been rowing regularly since then (on water when I can, machine when I must), because I love it; taking spin classes; occasionally weight training, bike riding, swimming (took adult learn-to-swim lessons! ); etc.

I was obese at diagnosis, and stayed obese for over a decade, despite becoming much more fit (and getting a bit smaller as I gained muscle vs. fat). In 2015, something finally snapped inside my head, partly triggered by high cholesterol/BP/gallbladder adenomyomatosis, and I started consistently losing weight by calorie counting. I lost about 50 pounds in a bit less than a year, from obese to a healthy weight, and so far have maintained a healthy weight for nearly 3 years since. I'm now age 63, 5'5", weight in mid-130s pounds.

IMO, small, permanent changes in habits, one day at a time, can get you some amazing results in the long run. "Motivation" is optional; what you need is a commitment to change behavior and habits, even slowly, but always persistently. You can surprise yourself!

Best wishes!

Hi there, I'm a fellow survivor, but mine was Breast Cancer. I WAS 240 lbs down at my lowest, about 235 ish down when I was diagnosed at age 42. I'm cancer-free now after surgeries and radiation but the anti-estrogen drugs and accompanying depression have done a bit of a whammy on my energy levels, self-esteem, self-control and ability/desire to exercise. I'm back down 210ish from my all-time high but gaining 25 net lbs over the past nearly year and a half of treatment has not been great for anything. I turned back to food for comfort. You don't get to be the size I was without some underlying food issues am I right? Anyway, I'm working on my suck-it-up-itude, so my first post-cancer triathlon is in less than 2 weeks and I am resolved to stop phoning it in on the motivation and commitment. I'm in Texas too, maybe we can help each other out?