Fitness and beating cancer

David Haas is a cancer survivor and awareness program advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. He's asked to post a guest blog on the benefits of fitness on coping with cancer. Here's his article.

Fitness Advantages Over Fighting Cancer

Cancer is a highly debilitating disease, on many different levels. Not only does the cancer patient suffer physically, but another risk is that of psychological suffering. Many cancer patients go on to receive psychological therapy to help deal with the psychological aspects of facing the disease. Surviving cancer and dealing with the treatments are great accomplishments, and many patient's new priority in life is to keep the cancer at bay. The latest medical research studies support physical exercise as way to do this. Multiple studies show that after diagnosis, higher levels of exercise lead to a lower chance of the cancer recurring as well as longer life span.

When it comes to physical health, a cancer patient often feels like they are not in control of their own body. This is a terrible feeling, and can lead to some serious psychological consequences. One of the best ways to fight this feeling of loss of control is to enter into a committed physical exercise routine. The benefits are instantaneous, and the effects are far reaching. Not only is physical fitness improved, but psychological fitness benefits as well. This can benefit someone going through any type of cancer whether it is pancreatic cancer or rare mesothelioma.

There are many different kinds of exercise and ways to exercise. Many people view exercise as boring or tedious. It does not have to be this way, and in fact, should not be this way! Cancer patients especially should realize that by engaging in fun, physical exercises, they are helping their health and helping to fight the cancer away proactively. Exercise makes you stronger physically - not only will you notice an increase in your muscular strength and flexibility, but an increase in stamina and endurance. Exercise improves the strength of your heart and its circulation, lessening the risks for arterial and circulation problems. Exercise leads to weight loss and leaner body mass with more toned muscles.

Many people do not realize it, but exercise also is great for improving mood. Not only does it get the blood flowing to your brain, bringing fresh oxygen and improving its function, but also it gets you breathing harder. Taking deep breaths, in addition to the excellent worn out feeling you get from a good work out, has many calming effects. Feeling more in shape means that you will be more confident. Exercise also reduces fatigue. As you build up stamina and endurance, you will have more energy reserves to draw on regularly. The benefits are truly many, and there is no better time to get in shape than now. Your body will thank you for it!

Arrival coverage

Day 20 - At home

We got into Bondi yesterday after a hard 3 hour paddle from Manly into strong southerly winds. It was a bizarre feeling to come past that final headline and realise that this was it; no more getting up at 4am, no more paddling for 8 hours a day and no more mind numbing exhaustion. Strangely I kind of miss the simplicity of it all. It's actually odd to be back. I slept 11 hours last night, I've been for a surf, bought a TV from Bing Lee and watched 4 movies already. I'm still pretty knackered. My plan for tomorrow is to rent all 3 series of Dexter and watch them back to back whilst Ali feeds me grapes...apparently we don't have any grapes...but Dexter is on, guaranteed.

Here's a couple of pics from Bondi. A massive thanks to everyone that came down to show their support. Now that the internet connection's better, we'll get a gallery up in the next few days.

I'm not sure what Scotty's up to right now but I bet he's missing the view of the back of my head. R

Rob sux!

Not much else to add other than that.

Se y'all at Bondi at 1pm tomorrow.

Scott.

Day 18 - Umina to Manly

It's another Southerly, shoulder busting head on wind. We started with one so it seems fitting to be ending with one too. Tomorrow's going to be one last hard haul to Bondi and then it's done: we'll have completed 740kms down the east Coast from Byron Bay to Bondi beach and we can finally rest, see our girlfriends, eat pizza, watch DVDs, wake up at a normal time and stay as still as possible for as long as we can. It's such an awesome feeling to be here. We've been in such an alien routine and so consistantly physically knackered for so long that being back in normality is actually weird. I'm slightly freaked out. We landed at Shelly beach in Manly at around 12.30pm with Lee waving a couple of beers from the headland and I'm now at home. Scotty's blow drying his hair and dreaming of soy lattes (who knew Aussie's were so metro?) and I've got to go into town and get a new phone having drowned the last one. Bring on the Bondi finish tomorrow. We'll be coming in at around 1pm if you can make it. Hopefully we won't stack it infront of everyone. Proper thanks will come to everyone tomorrow but needless to say Mr and Mrs and Ms, Doug, Christine and Joanna Timbrell have been living legends in supporting us down the coast. See you at Bondi. Rob

42km's to go and 42km's to never paddling again!

Hello to you all. As stated above we are nearing the end of our trip and we are only 42km's off finishing this ridiculously stupid paddle down the East Coast of Australia. To date we have paddled 698km's and both Rob and I are feeling a little tired and worse for wear Rob seems to be doing the worse though out of the two of us as the whinging pom is starting to rear his ugly head a little but is expected i guess!
I thought that for this blog I would share with you some of the things that i have learnt whilst in the middle of the ocean paddling a kayak...
1. Peeing in the middle of the ocean is an artform and takes a little getting used to at first. Once mastered it is a very nurturing feeling with the boat rocking back and fourth that you feel at one with the ocean. I have considered once i arrive home that i will need to go for constant swims in the ocean or have a bath to simulate this feeling again.
2. The further you travel down the East Coast the slower the coffee service becomes and don't, don't ever ask for soy milk in a regional town unless you are ready to accept a knowing look of "what a poofter"...I am came to accept this early on and instead of asking for the regular soy latte optede for a skinny latte (fair enough i guess).
3. Everyone you meet down the EC seems to be named either Dave or Sheryl?
4. Over thinking is over rated. I officially know how it feels to be a female now and over think the smallest thoughts and then dwell on them and then get woeked up about them and then cry and then laugh and then just move onto the next issue. I cant wait to get back to Sydney so I can be distracted by at least 30 different things at any one time and spend a total of 20 seconds on each subject.
5. Paddling 8-9hrs a day is really boring!
6. Watching Rob paddlr for 8-9hrs is boring!
7. Steak, eggs, sausages, baked beans, Nutri Grain and toast is always a good combination for breakfast at 4am...dont knock it before you try it.
8. Paddling for 8-9hrs is boring...wait have i said that one?

Have to go now as getting kicked out of the internet cafe we are so will fill you in the rest later.
Peace,
Scott
PS have had no time to proof read so sorry in advance!

Day 17 - The Stockton Bight

For the fact that I'm typing this, you know that we've not been swallowed by sharks on Stockton beach. I might be typing one handed and have lost an arm having heroically prized open the jaws of a monster attempting to eat my friend Scott, but actually I still have two hands, Scott's watching TV and we didn't see a single shark all day...very disappointing. We did however paddle 5 hours without a break, get followed by a playful pod of dolphins, play 'shag/marry or chuck' for the umteenth time and do interviews with The Herald and Channel 9 on the beach. All up, a successful day. We've got an early start to Norah Head tomorrow. Looking forward to Sydney. R