InPower Testimonial

My first anniversary of “the call” will be in a few weeks. It is the call from the doctor that suddenly turns your world upside down. After many tests and major surgery, the word cancer forever became part of my life. Chemotherapy soon followed.

As an avid bicyclist logging 6,000-8,000 miles a year and racing in the local masters’ category races, it was incomprehensible to be off the bike. But chemo has a way of sapping much of your physical and mental strength in ways never experienced before. I could barely manage a routine 7-mile warm up ride once very 3 weeks. I was at 10% of my fitness level.

I was desperate. Luckily, one of my oncology nurses referred me to Cancer Care Resources where there was a coached program called InPower. A few phone calls and an application got me my first appointment several weeks later.

I will never forget my first meeting with Laura Friedman. She sat me down, looked me sternly in the eye and impaled me with the statement, “you have got to listen us, we know what we are doing!” Laura who has a BS degree in Exercise and Movement Science and specialized training in cancer exercise is teamed up with Rosemary McDermott, an oncology nurse with more than 32 years of experience. They worked closely with my doctor to tailor a coached program specific to my condition.

I was no stranger to the use of heart rate monitors for training. When told not to exceed 125 beats per minute, I had my doubts. I barely break a sweat at this intensity, but soon found out just how difficult it was to keep it there.

That was 4 months ago.

Today, beyond my wildest expectations, I raced. It was a 20 mile time trial that I normally complete in under 55 minutes. I was hoping to break 70 minutes and only dreaming of breaking 60. After crossing the finish line, I cramped up so bad that I had to get off the bike and needed help back to the staging area. I had broken 58 minutes!

The InPower program got me though the physical and mental effects of chemotherapy. The holistic team approach provided by Laura and Rosemary helped me achieve my dream of getting back on the bike. They really do know what they are doing.

Alan McGuire-Dale
4/15/2007