Spin Doctor

This week we continue our focus on fitness for people dealing with cancer. I first met Dr. Richard Deming about three years ago when I was doing investigative reports on health insurance claims being denied. Dr. Deming is an oncologist and was treating one of the people we were featuring in our stories. I learned then that Dr. Deming is a great physician, but there's something I didn't know ... he's also a cycling instructor! After we attended one of his classes, Sonya came up with the term "Spin Doctor" - clever, huh?

ANYWAY ... here's what's cool about Dr. Deming's Wednesday night class at the Healthy Living Center in Clive ... it's part of Mercy Cancer Center's LiveStrong at the Y program. This is more than just biking. Prior to the exercise portion of the class, there's a cancer education seminar and afterward there's social time with snacks. In between, Dr. Deming cranks up the tunes and screams things like, "Pain is weakness leaving the body!" People are laughing, grimacing, singing, sweating ... and living STRONG. Dr. Deming says, "One cannot overestimate the value of exercise and fitness in one's life. Studies show that even patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy have fewer side effects if they are involved in a rigorous fitness regimen while undergoing treatment ... exercise is the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth!"

Don Cue was diagnosed with an agressive form of prostate cancer at age 45. He says he was terrified and the treatment he received left him weak. Cycling gave him energy. "Certainly there's the fitness aspect. We're spending 50 minutes just sweating, but also there's the camaraderie. We've made new friends, these are just terrific people to be around." And the LiveStrong program has changed his perspective. "Cancer is not a death sentence - you can get through this. Not everyone does, but you can."

LiveStrong's motto is: Knowledge is Power, Unity is Strength and Attitude is Everything. You'll find all that and more Wednesday nights at the Healthy Living Center. 12493 University Avenue • Clive, IA • 50325 • (515) 226-YMCA (9622)
www.healthydm.com