What if Cancer Treatment Left You Completely Exhausted?

Aug 29, 2016 8:00 AM ET

What if cancer treatment left you completely exhausted?

When I was 38, my life was turned upside down. As a healthy, happy wife and mother of two, I never could have imagined that I would be diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Post-diagnosis was a whirlwind: I had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and more surgery.

It took a long time to get my health back after treatment, but I discovered that the entire experience took a toll on my metabolism and muscle strength. When I’d try to exercise, I’d just end up in a pool of tears due to pain and exhaustion.

A friend told me about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA and it changed my life. Their exercise program for cancer survivors helped me regain all the strength I thought I had lost. Not only do I have more energy now, but I can carry my children again. That means the world to me. I can’t thank LIVESTRONG at the YMCA enough. They helped me find me again.

Please make a donation today to ensure that LIVESTRONG can continue offering LIVESTRONG at the YMCA to cancer survivors like me. This critical program is life-changing for people who want to show cancer it can’t keep them down.

Michelle Lavitt
Breast cancer survivor & LIVESTRONG at the YMCA participant

Give now so more survivors like Michelle can regain their strength and hope.