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Dec 12

Family duo face cancer together through exercise in U of A study – Calgary Herald

Exercise Programs Comments Off on Family duo face cancer together through exercise in U of A study – Calgary Herald

Father and son pair Terry Leskiw and James Leskiw love lots of common family activities hunting, fishing, watching sports, and now, doing medical studies together.

The duo are both participants in the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) study at the U of A Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic, which aims to understand how exercise can support cancer treatment and how best to incorporate exercise into the routines of cancer patients.

When James Leskiw, 42, was diagnosed with a brain tumour last November, he began the program to help mitigate the side-effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

Terry Leskiw, 73, vowed to drive him to both weekly sessions, every week, and was soon drawn into the program when study leads learned he was a prostate cancer survivor himself.

Ive never been familiar with gym techniques and approaches and I just could not say how much it has done for me from the health (stand)point, said Terry Leskiw at the centre on Tuesday. I cannot believe what this program did for me and how good it makes me feel.

The program offers twice-weekly guided exercise sessions for cancer patients and survivors at all stages from diagnosis to three-years cancer-free over the course of 12 weeks. It is currently at 18 sites in seven cities in Alberta and has had more than 1,500 participants.

Study lead Margaret McNeely, a professor in the U of A faculty of rehabilitation medicine and director of the centre, says the pair highlight how exercise can support treatment in different ways.

Weve been able to look at the different cancer types and see how the exercise programs may help them the best, she said Tuesday.

Terry Leskiw, 73, who is a cancer survivor and his son, James Leskiw, 42, are participating in the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program at the University of Albertas Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Shaughn Butts/Postmedia

For Terry Leskiw, the program is more about building exercise into his routine to prevent reoccurrence of cancer. But for his son, its helped him keep up his active lifestyle while undergoing treatment.

It spurred me to start to get active, said James Leskiw, who said activity became difficult after he suffered a tumour-related seizure several months ago. Once you start, it becomes part of your life.

Both father and son said the program has been a bonding experience and they are both set on continuing as James Leskiws current round of chemotherapy finishes soon.

The two of us feed off of each other. We enjoy each others company and the health and wellness is so important to both of us, said Terry Leskiw.

This way, if anything else arises down the line, Ill be prepared to take it head on, said James Leskiw.

mwyton@postmedia.com

twitter.com/moirawyton

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Family duo face cancer together through exercise in U of A study - Calgary Herald

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