1 in 8 women

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Sharon made an important choice after her breast cancer diagnosis on January 31, 2017: Go about life with a positive attitude.

This decision got her through 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation. It carried her through the side effects of her treatment: including neuropathy that affected her balance so much she relied on a cane and lymphedema that required her to wear a compression sleeves whenever she used her arms for heavy duty tasks. It pushed her through hours of PT. When she gained enough ground there, it empowered her to venture into West Family YMCA water fitness classes, on the advice of her doctor.

Sharon attempted a 10 a.m. Deep Water exercise class in January of 2019. She lasted only a short time before fatigue and a queasiness forced her out of the pool. Not to be discouraged, for the next 7 months she joined the Water Walking class that met at the same time in the shallow end. Between PT and this class, she regained enough balance to ditch the cane. By August, she built enough endurance to re-attempt the Deep Water exercise class. Over time, Sharon noticed more strength in her legs and more centeredness in the outward pronation of her feet through her PT and pool work.    

The deep water offers an excellent medium for Sharon to develop her core strength as she works hard at keeping herself in alignment. She enjoys her new pool friends and especially values the camaraderie with a 2-time breast cancer survivor of 30+ years she met in the deep end.

She offered this advice to women (and men) facing breast cancer:

1.    Keep a positive attitude.  Whatever will be will be.

2.    Get a wig ahead of time so you can feel good about your appearance

3.    Join a support group

4.    Schedule annual mammogram 

The YMCA of Broome County offers free cancer support through Livestrong Program.    

  https://ymcabroome.org/main/livestrong/