Finding Strength in the Weight Room
- Luke Haithcock was diagnosed with a very rare cancer, monophasic synovial sarcoma of the median nerve of the hand, when he was just 15 years old in 2017.
- He underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to treat his disease, but still made time for trips to the gym during his off-weeks of chemotherapy. His desire to thrive, not just survive, during his battle with cancer led him to his passion for bodybuilding.
- More research is needed on the effects of exercise during cancer treatment, but one of our experts says being in good shape during a cancer battle is beneficial. We also know that doing things that bring you joy during cancer treatment can help you maintain a positive outlook during treatment and possibly even have better treatment outcomes.
Haithcock noticed his first cancer symptom when a high-five gave him some pain in his right palm. Then another high-five shortly after sent a shooting pain through his hand, up his arm and into the pit of his stomach. The whole experience knocked the wind out of him. He eventually felt too much pain to play tennis, and noticed a raised, cyst-like bump on his palm. That’s when he knew something was really wrong. Haithcock was just 15 years old when he was diagnosed with monophasic synovial sarcoma of the median nerve of the hand in 2017.
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“The gym became the place I could leave all of my problems behind and just lift. It was me and the weights,” Haithcock wrote under a picture of him during cancer treatment and a picture of him flexing for the camera. “Through this, I developed a passion for lifting. Battling cancer proved that I had the will not to survive but to thrive. I channeled this drive into bodybuilding.”
As his body slowly recovered from the physical toll of his treatments, Haithcock noticed the steady increase of his muscle mass. Four years later, Haithcock has gone from 120 to 148 lbs. No one wants cancer, but Haithcock is very grateful for the lessons it has taught him.
“Bodybuilding revealed my true grit that I needed to have in order to get through this,” he wrote. “Just like with life, even though you may not see results instantly, with an unbreakable mindset, great things will happen.”
And great things have happened, especially considering the unique nature of his rare disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, “for every one million people, one to two are diagnosed with synovial sarcoma per year in the US.” The prognosis of the disease varies from case to case, but the NCI estimates that “anywhere from 36% to 76% of people with synovial sarcoma will be alive five years after their first diagnosis.”
Thankfully, the odds were in Haithcock’s favor, and he is thriving. He will begin his third year majoring in exercise physiology at ECU in the fall and shows no signs of easing up on his bodybuilding aspirations.
Exercise and Cancer
Becoming a bodybuilder shortly after recovering from a cancer battle is an incredible feat. But Dr. Sairah Ahmed, associate professor in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, wants you to know that being in good shape during your cancer battle is very beneficial.
What to know about diet and exercise if you have cancer
"I think that, in terms of cancer, oftentimes patients feel that they don't have any control over any part of their life, and that's not true," Ahmed told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. "The more physically fit you are going through your cancer treatment, the less side effects you'll have and the faster you'll get back to your normal quality of life."
According to the National Cancer Institute, physical activity is beneficial for cancer survivors. The NCI cited findings from a report of the 2018 American College of Sports Medicine International Multidisciplinary Roundtable on physical activity and cancer prevention and control in saying that exercise is generally good for cancer survivors. The roundtable also found:
- Strong evidence that moderate-intensity aerobic training and/or resistance exercise during and after cancer treatment can reduce anxiety, depressive symptoms and fatigue and improve health-related quality of life and physical function
- Strong evidence that exercise training is safe in persons who have or might develop breast-cancer-related lymphedema
- Some evidence that exercise is beneficial for bone health and sleep quality
- Insufficient evidence that physical activity can help prevent cardiotoxicity or chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy or improve cognitive function, falls, nausea, pain, sexual function or treatment tolerance
Staying Busy During Treatment
More research is needed on the effects of exercise during cancer treatment, but one thing is for sure: It may not be a cure-all, but prioritizing your mental and emotional health by doing things that make you happy can be very beneficial during a cancer journey.
For example, many people undergoing treatment find it helpful to have ongoing projects or things to look forward to that are separate from their cancer battles. Whether it's working out, making music or practicing your photography skills, there are no right or wrong answers. Studies prove that patients who are able to maintain a positive outlook often have better treatment outcomes. Experts such as Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, recommend doing whatever makes you happy.
RELATED: Stay Positive, It Matters
"We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes," Chase told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that's related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities."
Dr. Dana Chase encourages those facing cancer to find moments of joy during treatment
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