The Dallas Morning News – June 6, 2003

In fitness, a cancer patient has found salvation
By KARON KARTER

Special Contributor

How does she smile so brightly when life seems so unfair? She knows that tears won’t win the war raging in her body. She is vivacious, thin and tall. Her body does'nt wear the signs of what she has been through - no scarf, no wig, just a pale face and several black and blue bruises that dot her arm, numerous intravenous therapies and blood test. A Pilate's instructor at Gilda’s Club North Texas in Dallas, I knew that I would be training women living with cancer, but I prepared to meet someone in her early 30s. Christi Sestak walked into my class several months ago with the bounce of one who truly loves getting up each morning. She is strong enough to perform, without modifications, exercises such as the hundred, roll up and rolling-like-a-ball. She embraces each mind-body movement. Doctors and therapists say that moderate daily exercise is important for cancer patients because it helps reduce fatigue, improves energy, accelerates post-treatment recovery and helps those living with cancer to feel that they have some control of their bodies. Today, Christi’s brain tumor is stable, with no new growth. But the fight to stunt its growth has taken five years. From the moment the neurosurgeon spoke those dreaded words, “brain cancer,” Christi vowed to fight. “There was no way that I would leave my family behind,” she says.

The first seizure

She and husband Michael live in Dallas. They had been dating for eight months before her first grand mal seizure. She awoke in his arms, dazed, groggy and bloody from biting her tongue, unaware of what had just happened. A little over a month later, July 1998, she had her first surgery. Michael, her family and many devoted friends held an all-day vigil. She now jokingly whispers: “I was more nervous about my mother’s sewing club girlfriends sequestering Michael than the ... four-hour surgery. I remember opening my eyes in the intensive care unit, and there was my mother looking down at me - so I lifted these little glasses that were put over my eyes, I guess for the surgery, and said, ‘I-C-U - get it?’ That’s when we all laughed - I think my family was so relieved because I made that joke. ICU, as it turns out, is a wonderful place. They really pamper you there.” After only a few days in the hospital, Christi went home. She was ready to get on with her life as if the cancer was a passing nuisance. Prior to her surgery, she exercised early every day. Her favorite memory was running the relay race of the White Rock Marathon just six months before her surgery. After surgery, Christi underwent six weeks of radiation, five days a week. “After my morning radiation treatment, I would hit the treadmill. I knew that if I didn’t exercise in the morning directly after my treatments, then I would be too tired in the afternoon.” Her oncologist gave her the biggest compliment of all: “You don’t look like someone who just had six weeks of radiation.” Somewhere between surgery, radiation, chemother-apy and several blood transfusions, Michael and Christi were married. “Michael could’ve left me at any point during my illness, but didn’t. Now, he too lives with my cancer,” Christi says. With a new husband and the OK to return to work as an attorney, life seemed almost normal. But Christi suffered a major setback: The brain tumor began to grow again. Her oncologist wanted to treat the brain cancer with an aggressive dose of radiation. “I liked that,” she says. “But I was so bummed that I can no longer practice law. I really loved my job.” Michael was her soul, but fitness kept her body strong and spirits soaring. After the intense radiation therapy, Christi began training for a triathlon. “I needed something to do,” she says. “I loved being an attorney, and giving up work was like a divorce. I had to replace that loss with something, so fitness seemed right. It was what I also loved to do. I was trying yoga, swimming – and then met Bev. She gave me a whole new challenge – triathlons. I had something to work for again.” Beverly Sigler, a Dallas cancer exercise specialist, trained Christi for back-to-back triathlons. “It’s not uncommon for cancer patients to use fitness to offset the feelings of isolation, depression and fatigue,” Ms. Sigler says. “Moderate exercise keeps them moving forward, despite the obstacles of treatments and the disease itself. They can make choices about their health – when the cancer leaves them none.”

A positive effect

Many cancer professionals agree. Barbara Quash, R.N., manager of Baylor Sammons Breast Center in Dallas, says: “Some studies have found that exercise has a positive effect on physical and psychological well-being, as well as the prevention of some cancers such as breast cancer. We cannot change all risk factors for breast cancer - let’s say family history but we can change lifestyle factors, including exercise.” Denise Edmiston, program director of Gilda’s Club, says, “Participation in a group exercise setting can unite people living with cancer so they don’t feel so alone, emotionally and physically.” Christi says she felt “normal” while doing triathlon training. “At first, unless I told them, nobody in the triathlon group knew that I had cancer. I felt so good about myself because I could physically keep up with them. When my teammates’ found out, which they eventually did, they were so surprised by my illness because I didn’t look sick.” During her triathlon training, Christi suffered a second recurrence. This time, she had to take oral chemotherapy for four months. But she didn’t stop training for the triathlon. Her 12~week program included two-hour workouts - running, biking or swimming - topping off the week with a group workout. Her resolve, along with the support from her teammates, kept her attaining her weekly fitness goals. “Their support was tremendous,” Christi recalls. “We were biking around White Rock Lake and it was a super-hot summer day. I remember feeling tired and was falling behind the group. But there was no way that I was going to quit. Sam Leake (head of the triathlon training program at the Baylor-Tom Landry Fitness Center) peddled beside me.’ He rode beside me, with his hand on my back the whole time, pushing me along - so I could make it around the lake.” Since crossing the finish line of those back-to-back triathlons, Christi has endured yet another recurrence. Radiation and chemotherapy were out of the question. However, her doctor suggested more surgery. “I was ready for it,” she says. “Since I lived through the first one, I knew I could do it again; it just didn’t seem so bad the second time around.” Michael says: “Christi has maintained her exercise routine throughout her surgeries, radiation and multiple chemotherapies. Not on1y did her strong condi-tioning help her tolerate the treatments; it also helps her self-confidence so she can stay positive regarding her disease. She has found that exercise is a constant in her life when so many things in her life are unstable. The loss of choice is the worst thing about having cancer. At age 32, she is retired. She can’t ride the roller coasters at Six Flags of Texas - she and Michael used to love Six Flags. She wanted to sky dive on their vacation in Hawaii, but decided against it. She would have done those things in a heartbeat if she were not sick.

Feeling Lucky

She says, “I’m lucky to be here. Given the choice between life and Six Flags, well ... giving up a few rides is not such a big deal. I can’t ride my bike anymore - so no more triathlons for me. My balance was OK before my cancer, but I love spin classes; I’ve become a high-maintenance exerciser. I like air conditioning and having my water bottle within reach. I like fun runs such as the Jingle Bell and Freedom runs. Michael and I like to run or walk the Katy Trail on most Saturday mornings. And, of course, there’s Pilates.” Bev Sigler says, “Christi’s fighting sprit – to live as normal a life as she can – gets her through this.” Ms. Siger recalls that only five or so minutes into one of the triathlons, Christi crashed her bike right in front of her mother. Perhaps many would have quit. But Christi dusted herself off and got back on. During the 5K run, Christi decided to walk rather than run. Along the trail to the finish line, she picked daisies and yellow and purple flowers. At the finish line, she gave her mother the bouquet.

Karon Karter is a Dallas freelance writer, a Pilates instructor and the author of Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Pilates Method (Alpha Books, $16.95).

• Moderate exercise helps cancer patients.
• It reduces the onset of fatigue.
• Improves daily energy levels.
• Hastens post-treatment recovery.
• Increases oxygen delivery (chemotherapy often reduces oxygen to the body).
• Helps patients feel in control of their bodies.