Bernard Fletcher
I suffer from Multiple myeloma which is a blood cancer that damages the bones in the body, and I was diagnosed in October 2014. I have had four lines of treatment since then and I am currently on continuous oral chemo treatment on a drug called Revlimid in addition to a weekly high dose of steroids.
My age bracket
Date of birth is 23/4/1947 and I am 74 years old.
How does the condition affect me?
I suffer from fatigue and tiredness and anxiety as there is currently no cure for my cancer. There is also a long list of side effects which one can suffer from.
In my case they are regular diarrhoea, indigestion, tiredness, lack of energy and sleep deprivation. There is also the possibility of the treatment causing other cancers and I have had skin cancer treatment since my diagnosis.
How do I feel the sessions help me?
I find the fitness/walking/football sessions help me both physically and mentally. I look forward to the regular weekly sessions which help me to live a normal life whilst living with cancer. I have achieved a good level of fitness for my age, and this has been maintained through the regular weekly sessions. My core body strengths are being maintained and my leg muscles are kept in good shape. This is important for my general wellbeing and for maintaining regular walking.
The fitness sessions are stimulating and give me purpose and goals to achieve. I find that the physical exercise helps to create my own adrenalin and I feel better physically afterwards. The social contact with the other participants is also very beneficial and there is a great sense of togetherness between everyone. I have made new friends by attending the group sessions.
There is the feeling of being part of a team and we enjoy each other’s company and conversation. My football skills have definitely improved with the regular ball skills routines. I come away from each session with a feeling of achievement which is very much part of my own mechanism of coping with my cancer in my general way of life.
Would I recommend the sessions to others?
I would without doubt recommend the sessions to other people in my position and older people wanting to keep fit and healthy. The sessions are ideal for retired men and women with health issues or who just want to keep fit in old age. They are excellent for general fitness for the age group 60-85.
The sessions are well prepared and organised, and we are given very clear instructions in every activity.
Keith ensures that every member is comfortable and continually checks that everyone is feeling well and not overexerting themselves. We have recovery drinks breaks to ensure we keep hydrated.
His outgoing personality is a perfect fit for the group, and he uses stories and humour during the sessions. His continuous use of praise and recognition works well to keep us motivated as individuals within the group. This makes us feel we are doing well and feel good about ourselves and encourages us to maintain our performance level.
