Personal anecdote:
In September 2008 I was diagnosed with lung cancer that could not be treated surgically. I began a series of six chemotherapy treatments in early November, and completed the series about five weeks ago. The good news is that the primary tumor has responded well to the treatment (it has shrunk significantly) and I am feeling well. My next date with the oncologist is in June. The oncologist expresses both hope and a reassuring level of confidence that my cancer, while incurable, can be “managed” as a “chronic disease.” Although I do not know what the future holds I look forward to getting back on the trail and hiking as the weather improves in the weeks and months ahead.
What does "hiking and health" have to do with this? Read on.
Looking back, my lung cancer symptoms probably emerged noticeably just short of a year ago. I work as a newspaper photographer, which is a fairly physical job – lots of being on your feet, walking, lugging equipment, etc., plus long hours. The job became tougher last spring. I found myself beset with shortness of breath upon exertion, some persistent coughing and increasing weariness (fatigue).
Last spring and summer, I noted that over the last couple of years I’d become somewhat more sedentary than usual, and had put on some weight. Plus, I was getting older – 64 years – and attributed some of my slowdown to age. But the symptoms got worse, to the extent that I did no hiking during my usual summer vacation. Finally, in August, I went to my doctor.
Doc ordered up three things: A suite of blood tests, a heart evaluation, and a chest X-Ray.
The truth is, I was fully expecting to be diagnosed as having entered a phase of congestive heart failure.
The spot on my lung revealed by the X-Ray was a shocker. Additional imaging tests indicated a tumor, a bronchoscopy indicated cancer, lung surgery in late September confirmed the bronchoscopy result, with considerably more details as to type and stage of my disease.
What has served me well through all of this has been my apparent underlying good health – robustness. Blood tests indicated things were generally OK. The heart evaluation, especially, was encouraging. My doc observed that my ticker works like one that belongs to “an athlete.” (I never before had heard any reference connecting me and “athlete,” especially by any doctor.)
Doc attributed the health of my heart to … hiking!
I’ll buy that. And because hiking long has been my primary physical activity (outside of work) I also have to believe has contributed significantly to the general robustness of my health, which no doubt has helped see me through surgery and chemotherapy and about everything else dealing with this damned cancer (physically) has brought on. To go hiking again has been a goal since all this started – and that has helped me deal with things emotionally.
I’ve often referred to hiking as my “life sport.” It certainly is that – a physically active pastime that I’ve engaged in for at least 55 years. But now the term has meaning on a different level as well.
G.
), the VIEWS, the fresh air, others you meet on the trail, and on and on and on. It is truly an escape...even if only for a few hours. I always feel so refreshed and reinvigorated on the ride home. Plus...you sleep SO good after a nice, long hike!
