Eye of the Tiger
- Cancer survivor Abby Lee Miller is back in physical therapy after a second spinal surgery, and is smiling through the pain.
- Experts say embracing an “eye of the tiger” mentality during and after cancer can help both treatment and recovery outcomes.
- It’s been proven that a light exercise regime can help people recover faster after surgery.
Miller recently shared a video of her standing up from her electric wheelchair with the assistance of a walker and stepping onto a platform. She recently had a second spinal surgery for unknown reasons, but clearly isn’t letting recovery stop her from completing milestones in physical therapy. Miller has been going to regular physical therapy sessions since 2018, after she suffered complications from a first spinal surgery during treatment for Burkitt’s Lymphoma.
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Miller’s eye of the tiger mentality has helped her achieve incredible milestones during her physical therapy appointments. Even when COVID-19 forced her to stop going to her rehab center in person, she still found inventive ways to work out whether it was boxing with water bottles or using an at-home personal trainer.
Mentality During & After Cancer
Miller’s attitude is the right approach when either going through or recovering from cancer. In fact, it’s been proven. Experts say that a strong and positive mindset can help guide patients to more successful treatment outcomes, and also help them recover more easily.
"We call it 'eye of the tiger,'” Dr. Sid Ganguly, Deputy Director of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Kansas Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet. "You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers."
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This ‘eye of the tiger’ mentality not only refers to someone’s attitude; it also includes diet and exercise. By incorporating all three of these factors, it can help patients keep up their health. “A good positive mind increases our interleukins, our immune system,” Dr. Ganguly says. “There have been many researches that already have proved that depression is associated with decreased immune system, increased chance of infection. Seasonal affective disorders during winter has been associated with increased respiratory illnesses as well.”
Dr. Sid Ganguly explains how the “eye of the tiger” mindset helps both patients and survivors
Exercise After Surgery
After surgery, some may assume it’s important to just sit back and relax on the couch. Taking it easy is definitely necessary at times, but exercise can actually help patients heal faster and boost their immune system.
By consulting a physical therapist, the professional will be able to assess your mobility, recovery stage, and range of motion in order to handcraft a workout regime that will benefit you. This adds a personal touch to your recovery process, and help you gain back strength while not putting your health in jeopardy.
“Exercise improves your circulation,” Dr. Angela Wicker-Ramos, an oncology physical therapist for Cancer Rehab and Integrative Medicine, tells SurvivorNet. “Improving circulation improves wound healing. So physical therapists can help with assessing any issues with range of motion, mobility, fatigue, balance, and then create a program that is very much a prescriptive program. So a program that’s based on what you are at the time of your treatments.”
Dr. Angela Wicker-Ramos explains how exercise can help after surgery
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