Eye on Health: Cancer fitness at Beacon Health & Fitness

There are 18.1 million cancer survivors currently in the U.S.

That’s according to the American Cancer society.

In Indiana alone, there over 365,000 survivors – those individuals living with cancer often in need of support.

Some are finding it through Cancer Fitness at Beacon Health & Fitness.

Tom Ramey spent over a dozen days in the emergency room . He was getting blood work 3 to 4 times a week and lost 60 pounds while going through chemo.

While the chemo was attacking the cancer, it was also taking his strength and balance.

Ramey was determined to re-gain control of his body and his life.

“I wanted to be able to travel again, so I actually wrote down four trips I wanted to take this year and one was that I wanted to watch my grandboys play basketball in Milwaukee,” said Ramey.

Ramey enrolled in cancer fitness classes at Beacon Health System.

The classes have been around for over 15 years as part of the Best Medicine Program, which are designed for those with unique health conditions or needs.

We wanted to offer something for those who are coming out of treatment or finishing therapy kind of a continuing way to continue their exercise in a structured setting, without being off on their own, giving them accountability bringing guidance that was one of our main goals for starting the best medicine program,” said Elasah Klopfenstein, Beacon Clinical Integration Coordinator.

The classes work to strengthen the body and mind.

“One of the biggest things patients that have gone through cancer faces is fatigue. The fatigue is one of the biggest things… keeping moving and building the cardio respiratory fitness it’s just really helpful to prevent other side effects and also just to have a sense of community and not feel so alone, when you are recovering or facing treatment,” said Linda Kolmodin, group fitness instructor.

The classes which are offered twice a week incorporate Pilates equipment and hand weights for balance and core strength.

“We take patients who are currently undergoing treatment who have in the past and maybe have treatment coming up as well so anywhere in those stages they will qualify,” said Klopfenstein.

Ramey says he has seen a noticeable difference.

“I could walk 3 miles after not being able to walk 600 feet – yards – yeah so the experience has been really good,” said Ramey.

Ramey now able to walk longer distances, has trust in his body and he is finally able to check off some of the travel goals he set for himself.

He has already made the trip to see his grandchildren play basketball in Milwaukee.