Returning to the gym after chemotherapy and Ivor Lewis surgery isn’t about chasing the body you had before cancer. It’s about rebuilding trust in the body you have now, and learning to move forward with patience rather than pressure. For months, my body was focused entirely on survival. Treatment, surgery, recovery and repeat left little room for strength, stamina or routine. Muscle mass faded, weight shifted, and energy became something to conserve. The idea of exercise felt distant, even unrealistic. When recovery finally created space to think about movement again, stepping back into the gym felt both hopeful and intimidating. Those first sessions were humbling. Weights that once felt comfortable suddenly felt heavy, and cardio had to be approached carefully. Progress came in minutes rather than miles, in light resistance rather than loaded bars. But none of that meant failure. It simply reflected a body that had been through a lot and was learning again. One of the biggest...
PLEASE NOTE: To follow our story from the beginning, please start at the bottom blog and work upwards! Thank you! We are not medical professionals, we are writing from our own experiences. We accept no responsibility for conflicting, incorrect or inaccurate information. All NHS trusts are different and your experience may differ from ours.