Fighting cancer through fitness

Maple Tree Cancer Alliance Program Objectives

Ways regular exercise may help you during cancer treatment

Source: American Cancer Society

Fatigue and nausea are to be expected but neither are excuses for Jaimee Maier-Francis.

The Centerville mother of three is in the midst of treatments for her second bout with cancer, but that rarely stops her from exercising. On those days when she would rather pull the covers over her head than exercise, her trainer from the Maple Tree Cancer Alliance gives her the push she needs.

“It’s been an amazing benefit for me,” Maier-Francis said. “I have something to look forward to — something to put on the calendar besides a doctor’s appointment or chemo — and I know I’ll see results.”

Maier-Francis is one of the more than 200 patients a month who take advantage of the fitness services that the Maple Tree Cancer Alliance provides. The non-profit organization employs certified clinical cancer exercise specialists who design a personalized, structured progression of cancer rehabilitation for each patient, from the initiation of cancer treatment throughout cancer remission.

“I’d say 85 percent of the people we see were completely sedentary, so we always stress we meet you where you are,” said Karen Wonders, Maple Tree Cancer Alliance founder and executive director. “Something is always better than nothing when it comes to exercise.”

Quality of life

“Fatigue is the No. 1 symptom for cancer patients so the logical thing might seem to be to take a nap, but studies show that it can actually make them more tired,” Wonders said. “Exercise is really beneficial for cancer patients to improve their quality of life and reduce the side effects of treatments.”

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, cancer survivors — including those currently undergoing treatment — can experience a multitude of benefits from exercise. And the American Cancer Society, likewise, touts the many benefits of exercise for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment.

Maier-Francis, who was first diagnosed in 2014, can attest to those benefits.

“Physically, I have seen a major difference. I have trimmed down, lost fat and gained muscle,” she said. “And getting the blood moving makes you feel better mentally.”

It also helps Maier-Francis, 39, manage the challenges of parenting three children ranging in age from 8 down to 2½.

“My kids and husband keep me moving, but this shows them that I can be strong through this,” she said.

There are, of course, some precautions and checking with a doctor is always advisable before beginning an exercise program.

"One thing you want to watch out for is immune function," said Wonders, who is also the program director, and sports science professor for the Wright State University Department of Kinesiology and Health. "There can be a delicate balance and you don't want to do anything to compromise immunity."

Taking control

The Maple Tree Cancer Alliance is about more than workouts; it’s about working together.

“It’s almost like having an extra support system,” Wonders said.

Trainers work — free of charge — with patients to provide motivation and make a difference.

“I’ve had three different trainers and every single one of them has done something for me,” Maier-Francis said. “I need someone to give me that push and they do that.”

Fitness and fighting cancer are personal to Wonders, who lost her grandfather to colon cancer in 2007. She named the organization in his memory, as three majestic maple trees towered above her grandfather’s front yard.

“Every hour, he would get up and do one lap around the first floor of his house,” she said. “He would set his alarm. He said it was ‘time to do his exercise.’ It made him feel better, like he had some control.”

More and more people are taking control of their health, as only 32 patients took advantage of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance programs in the 2010 — the organization’s first year. Now, the 15 trainers work with 200 patients a month. Based in Dayton, the program will soon expand to two additional sites — Greene Memorial Hospital in Xenia and Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek.

“I always felt like this was something I was called to do,” Wonders said. “One of my goals is to remove any and all barriers for these patients.”

Making it free, with flexible hours and multiple locations goes a long way toward doing just that.

For information, visit www.mapletreecanceralliance.org.