Part of me felt an inescapable terror at the prospect of chemotherapy, and yet part of me was confident I was making the right choice in accepting the treatments, no matter how wasted I might (temporarily) feel as a result. I assembled a team to help me manage the cancer and the treatments, took a deep breath, and began my own personal race for a cure.

At the time of my diagnosis, I was exercising on a regular basis. I was unsure whether or not I could continue my workouts once I began the chemotherapy, so I included Fran Werner on my team to help me decide. I knew how much she understood physiology and exercise, and I trusted her in this time of great need. Fran helped me realize from Day One how much I could improve my situation by continuing to exercise, and explained that at a muscular level, I would be counteracting the effects of the chemotherapy. In my work with Fran, that is exactly what happened, that and much more.

Fran was an amazing coach, especially given that I showed up with differing levels of emotional and physical ability every time I saw her. She seemed to read something in me, in my face, in my body language and always knew what to say when I first arrived. She assessed my frame of mind, my energy and my various needs and quietly led me to either a conversation or a workout. When I exercised, Fran was completely tuned in to what I could do, when I could do more, and when it was time to stop. On the other hand, some days my emotional needs outweighed my physical ones, and I needed to talk. The time together was always what I needed, as Fran was completely able to hear me, be with me and support me - and that's saying a lot when you're dealing with a cancer patient.

Most of the time we exercised with free weights and with machines. I say "we" because my workouts with Fran felt like teamwork. She told me what muscle groups we were targeting, set my weights and counted reps for me, and I did the work. She was invariably positive and supportive, even as my ability to perform was affected by the drugs. Over the course of the chemotherapy, I could do fewer and fewer reps at lighter and lighter weights, and at a slower and slower pace. I was never discouraged, however, because even as I weakened, Fran reinforced for me just how much I was doing, as opposed to how much I couldn't do. She explained that my continued workouts were helping to maintain my muscle mass, even as the drugs were having a wasting effect. She also reminded me that my workouts were providing me with naturally uplifting endorphins and seratonins, and how valuable they would be to my emotional health. With her guidance, I felt empowered. I loved the fact that I could actually do something to stay ahead, and knowing that I could really help myself was an incredible motivator. So was Fran. She knew just when to put a helping finger on the bar to help me do one more rep. (Chances are her index finger didn't really make that much physical difference, but the emotional and psychological support behind it often allowed me to continue.) Fran's constant encouragement and the fun we had together, even at such a challenging time, helped me help myself through the most difficult time of my life.

My doctors were thrilled with my general well-being, my strength, and my spirits. They were incredibly impressed and surprised that I continued my workouts and recognized that my overall recovery was substantially improved due to my exercising. Fran was right: I stayed stronger, both emotionally and physically, by working out two or three times a week throughout my treatments. Fran's understanding of cancer treatments and exercise, her intelligence, her kindness, and her incredible support made her an invaluable member of my team.

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