I have not just survived cancer 3 instances – I have thrived

Jonathan Acott: ‘I wished to prove that I would not be beaten by my cancer.’ Photograph: University of Surrey

In 2004 I was 29 years previous, operating as a personalized trainer and swimming instructor, and exercising twice a day, six days a week. I was in great form. Then I was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

I was really misdiagnosed at first, and it was only after a further six weeks that I was referred to a surgeon. In that time, it had spread to my lymph and lung.

I had an orchidectomy and 12 weeks of chemotherapy to get rid of and ruin 30 tumours. The treatment was arduous, but I was lucky that, due to my fitness levels, my entire body dealt with it effectively. Even luckier, the cancer responded to remedy.

After a 12 months of what could best be described as hedonistic residing, I realised that I necessary to deal with my entire body much better and I commenced working out often and eating actually nicely. Nevertheless, in 2007 I relapsed with a rhabdomyosarcoma tumour in my chest that had grown to the dimension of a cricket ball.

I required an LHS full lateral thoracotomy, which requires opening up the chest. Again, due to the fact of my strength and fitness, I was released from hospital in 3 days: regular recovery time is significantly longer. I was swimming and back in the health club as quickly as the wound and my bones had healed.

After this I desired to prove that I would not be beaten by my cancer, so I embarked on a series of adventures and challenges that would push my physique even more and more difficult than ever ahead of.

In 2009 I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. At a little beneath twenty,000ft, I stood there breathless but pleased that, in spite of the aches and pains, I could even now push myself to conquer mountains the two literal and metaphorical.

The following 12 months, I organised and took element in a cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End, covering 900 miles in nine days by way of this stunning nation.

Following that, I wanted to increase the stakes. All my preceding challenges had been as portion of a team, but I now wanted to test myself on my own, so Ironman France appeared like the perfect opportunity. It concerned a 2.four-mile sea swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon back-to-back. It is my greatest achievement to date.

Then, in 2013, I was diagnosed with a germ cell tumour in the lymph nodes behind my stomach. After surgical treatment and the removal of that, plus 45 other lymph nodes, I was cancer-free of charge again. I would had this cancer in 2012 – which implies I did the Ironman with it – but my physique had stored it at bay.

So what now?

I have had to come to terms with the reality that I’ve had cancer 3 occasions and there is a opportunity that it will take place once more. But I am determined not to live in a worry of it. Cancer is an unwanted tenant in my physique, but I am doing all I can to stay constructive and safeguard myself with wholesome living, workout and the right diet plan, which will, hopefully, assist to guarantee that I will ready to throw it out once again, if needed.

And the difficulties continue. There is the Surrey half marathon next month and a half Ironman in Norway in July. If time and circumstances align, I would also love to cycle across America both later on this year or at the starting of 2015, to increase a lot more income for analysis into cancer and to raise awareness of the value of workout.

I am a company believer that physical exercise, in any kind, from a brisk stroll to climbing a mountain, can have helpful results for folks for the duration of and soon after remedy.

Functioning with researchers at the University of Surrey and Reading and currently being exposed to the wealth of proof out there, it is clear to me that the old adage “rest is best” no longer applies.

As well as assisting to improve aerobic fitness and reduce fatigue, exercising can also have psychological rewards, such as helping to decrease depression. There is also evidence to recommend that enough amounts of physical exercise may possibly also reduce the chance of recurrence in some cancers.

As a keen golfer, I have drawn a lot of parallels amongst the game and dealing with cancer. Most notably, it truly is unpredictable, but persistence pays off, technologies assists – and a sense of humour actually assists.

My legacy will not be that I survived cancer 3 instances, it will be that I thrived right after obtaining it and manufactured the absolute most out of life.

Jonathan Acott is head of operations at Surrey Sport Park, University of Surrey and will be speaking at the University on February 4 2014 to mark Planet Cancer Day.

I have not just survived cancer 3 instances – I have thrived