Each person dealing with cancer has their own personal issues, from dealing with treatment to trying to keep a job.  And it is daunting. A positive outlook when dealing with cancer is something that can help, at least a little bit, when dealing with cancer.  

In all likelihood I should probably be on oxygen on the couch due to the extent of the cancer in my lungs.  Instead starting triathlon training has seemed to help my cardiovascular system compensate.  My chemotherapy sessions were just switched (May, 2019) from once every two weeks to once every three weeks to give me more good days to train every cycle - the difference of being able to exercise outweighs the incremental difference of any benefit of shorter chemotherapy cycle in my case.   

I do understand I am fortunate in that I have avoided various complications during my cancer treatments to allow me to do what I am doing.  And that is not always the easiest process for me.  Emotionally it was, and continues to be, a great support mechanism for me.  And I hope it will be for others.   

Embrace The Slow is basically it is okay not to be the fastest.  The accomplishment is meeting each and every day.  And if things are a bit slow, whether training or how you are feeling, it is okay.  It happens.  As I tell people, I already have won each time I get to the starting line.  Even more so when I finish.  If I happen to beat the cut-off time (on races where there are times) another victory  to check off.  And I failed to finish my second Ironman 70.3 (North Carolina, October 2019.)  Was picked up 10 miles into the run since there was no way I was going to get  the remaining distance in with the remaining time.  And they dropped me off about 100 yards before the chute. to let us run in and get a medal/finishers hat. The photos show me  clapping and smiling as I crossed the finish line.  It is not that I am not competitive.  It was not that I was probably not a little bummed (well not really at that point).  But the vast majority of the feeling was an great weekend, a great time and I did a 1.2 Mile swim, 57.7 mile bike and 10.1 mile run.  While on chemo.  Kind of hard to get too bummed.  And I signed up for my next one 12 days later

The intent is to offer support for cancer patients to exercise to the extent they can.  One general goal  is to  help patients participate in a triathlon of any length, as part of a relay or a running walk/run even.)  Walking across the finish line is a tremendous accomplishment.  

We also want to offer general support to cancer patients and their families, and to donate money for research into integrative medicine and exercise programs. (A good description of integrative medicine can be seen here at the Memorial Sloan Kettering website. The section on herbs and other supplements is interesting -  there have been indications that some have potential  ) While the traditional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, for instance) are still standard and the promise of immunotherapy and targeted therapies becomes closer to reality with each day, there seem to be things that are promising to add to integrative medicine.  To be clear, integrative medicine is not being suggested as replacing current medical standards of treatments, but can help currently and perhaps may have future benefits unlocked which can be less stressful on the body.