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The Alberta Most cancers Train program is “life-saving and life-affirming” for an area Edmonton sports activities broadcasting persona battling most cancers.

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Dave Jamieson, who has labored with the Edmonton Elks and is a radio host on TSN 1260, was recognized with head and neck most cancers in 2021. He had an operation in July final yr to take away the three-centimetre tumour from his neck and underwent six weeks of radiation.

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“Popping out of that, my physique was destroyed,” he stated. “I imply, I had little or no left, I had no muscle, I misplaced over 40 kilos. There was a interval in there throughout the radiation, I misplaced my skill to talk, which given my present employment was horrifying.”

He then began with the Alberta Most cancers Train (ACE) program out of Corbett Corridor on the College of Alberta, which helps most cancers sufferers regain their bodily power.

“What ACE helped me with was the bodily aspect, clearly, simply to very gently type of rebuild, rediscover the physique,” Jamieson stated.

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“However there’s additionally, as anybody who workout routines is aware of, there’s the profit that you just get from type of re-engaging along with your physique and simply understanding that, OK, there’s some hope right here, as a result of I used to be not in an excellent place once I arrived right here. However I at all times say, I felt higher leaving this program each day that I got here right here than I did coming in.”

The ACE program is in its sixth yr and is a analysis research that’s taking a look at how train advantages most cancers sufferers, stated Margaret McNeely, a professor of rehabilitation medication on the U of A.

“We’re utilizing train strategically to handle the signs and negative effects of the most cancers remedies in order that people can both face up to the remedy higher and/or recuperate from the most cancers remedies,” she stated.

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Sufferers are in a position to be assessed, drawback areas are decided and an train regime is strategically constructed to be tailor-made to the person. McNeely stated their completion charge for the 12-week program is 93 per cent whereas train adherence is at 84 per cent.

This system is offered to all most cancers sorts and phases of most cancers and has been rolled out throughout the province, with greater than 2,400 those who have taken half in it.

“(Sufferers) can self-refer to this system. If there are any points with regard to security, when it comes to workout routines, then we return to the doctor to get approval, however in any other case, they will self-refer,” McNeely stated. “So we’ve made it very easy for them to entry this system.”

Jamieson accomplished a 12-week and a 10-week program with ACE and is now thought of a graduate. He’s now advocating for this system and credit it for giving him hope.

“What ACE did for me, and I imagine it does for others, it offers you a path ahead and it does it by bodily exercise,” he stated. “For these struggling and fighting most cancers, no matter kind that will take, you want hope.”

ajunker@postmedia.com