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After Chemo, He Measured Recovery in Racquetball Games

Sep 3

1 min read

The story

Cancer treatment shrinks a person in ways scales only partly catch. John Smelcer, writing for CURE, watched weight and hair leave and wondered how long the road back would be.

When chemo ended, repair started sooner than he expected. Weight returned. Hair returned. Friends said his face looked fuller.

What happened next

Three months after the last cycle he was playing racquetball again, several games in a row. He used the court as a report card. Not a trophy. Evidence.

A lesson you can use this week

Pick a pre-illness activity that is measurable and kind to your current body. Let it tell you the truth week by week.

Sources

John Smelcer, CURE, “Quick as a Wink: The Long (or Short) Road to Recovery After Cancer,” May 16, 2023.

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