In July 2016, Dr. Catherine (Kathy) Jankowski, an exercise physiologist at the University of Colorado, was an expert guest on the Fight CRC blog. At that time, we were gearing up for our first Climb for a Cure and Dr. Jankowski offered tips and advice for colon cancer and rectal cancer survivors who were planning to join.

She also offered tips and advice for cancer survivors who were starting an exercise routine. One of her comments was:

Find a buddy! The buddy system is highly recommended for safety reasons and makes exercise more fun. Getting active with a buddy is a good way to stay motivated to engage in healthy exercise behaviors.

Turns out, having a buddy is all around a great thing! Social support can offer encouragement, accountability, and even help increase healthy behavior through modeling.

5 ways a strong support network can benefit you:

• Helps you stay calm and reduce stress. A strong support network during a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship has true benefit. It can help maintain emotional stability and adapt to a new normal with more ease, while increasing overall quality of life.
• May lower risk of recurrence. In the breast cancer world, a few studies have shown that patients who are socially well-connected have a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence and reduced breast cancer death rates.
• Provides an extra ear at appointments. Having a friend or family member attend doctor appointments helps patients retain information and feel more confident in treatment decision-making.
• Supports you in sticking to healthy habits!
  • Have more fun while exercising. Exercising with a buddy can help you jumpstart a fitness routine and make fitness more exciting. Whether you’re engaging in some serious gossip or showing off your competitive edge (all in good fun), having others with you during workouts can be more fun.
  • Helps you stay accountable when it comes to your fitness goal, which is important, as evidence has shown that exercise can reduce risk of recurrence for people with colon cancer.
  • People who have regular contact with friends or family may eat more fruits and veggies.

As we embark on this year's Climb for a Cure, consider the benefits of community. If you’re able to join a Community Climb or the Lake Tahoe Climb, consider bringing along a friend. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll be surrounded by relentless champions all fighting (and climbing) for the same thing -- a future without colorectal cancer.

While a cancer diagnosis is potentially the most challenging event a person may experience in their life, having a strong support network can help in a variety of ways.

Here are some ways to grow your support network!

• Talk to your friends and family.
• Join our Climb Facebook group.
• Join Inspire.
• Look for a local cancer support group. Call our Cancer Support line at 1-877-427-2111 to find a group near you.
• Join a group at your spiritual or religious center.
• Talk to a therapist or counselor.

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