Cyclist for Life Howie: Riding the Ups & Downs of Cancer

Howie has been an avid cyclist most of his adult life, with mileage equivalent to a few laps around the planet. But more remarkable is that he has done a good bit of that cycling with cancer – in fact, through six cases of lymphoma.  Howie credits cancer therapies for surviving this odyssey but is quick to add that cycling has contributed, too. “Because of all the riding I do,” he says, “they’re able to hit me harder with chemo, with radiation, when they have to.” Exercise oncologist Dr. Katie Schmitz (University of Pittsburgh) concurs.  “Think about a little old lady, 85 years old, weighs 90 pounds soaking wet,” says Dr. Schmitz. “Then think about a regular cyclist – you are able to hit the one who has more muscle harder, which is treating the tumor better. “ Need to change gears on your commitment to exercise? Listen in for some inspiration from Cyclist for Life Howie.  Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney   SHOW NOTES Expert Guests: Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH:  UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Moving Through Cancer Formerly: Penn State Cancer Institute Leading researcher in exercise oncology Notable Publications:  Moving through cancer: Setting the agenda to make exercise standard in oncology practice American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cancer Prevention and Control Articles of Interest: Annals of Oncology: Risk for second malignancies in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors: a meta-analysis Annals of Oncology: I. Epidemiology of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma NYT: What to Know About Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma The Atlantic: I’LL TELL YOU THE SECRET OF CANCER Resources: What is Cancer? Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Cancer Data and Statistics Leading Causes of Death in the US Chemotherapy: R-CHOP The New England Classic Pan-Mass Challenge The Bon Ton Rulet More at www.mybodyodyssey.com Follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast Subscribe!