https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/Topics on health, wellness, injures, illness, and nutritionen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/injuries-illness/33215/the-survivor-s-lane-radiation-fear-and-the-body-of-a-masters-swimmerWed, 08 Apr 2026 12:37:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:f7c4a21c-f6e0-4272-afb8-5de626b9d1fdswimfastatlantaThe Survivor’s Lane: Radiation, Fear, and the Body of a Masters Swimmer What it means to face radiation at 60 — as an athlete, a survivor, and a woman fighting back through cancer. By Leann Rossi I had my first appointment for radiation treatment the other day, and I didn’t expect the wave of emotion that hit me. I’ve always been someone who manages anxiety by talking it out — bouncing it off my spouse, leaning on someone who can share their experience, strength, and hope. But when the radiation tech came to get me from the waiting room, something inside me cracked open. I immediately started to cry. The fear was overwhelming. The vulnerability was sharp. And for a moment, I felt small — smaller than I’ve felt in years. It’s strange how you can be surrounded by people and still feel alone in a moment like that. The tech did his best to comfort me, but fear has a way of shrinking the world down to a single point. And in that point, I was just a woman facing something I never thought I’d face again. Because yes — this is my second cancer era. What Radiation Means for a Masters Swimmer Radiation is a powerful tool in cancer treatment, but it’s also a stressor on the body — especially a body that has lived, trained, aged, healed, and adapted the way a Masters swimmer’s body has. While every person’s experience is different, radiation can affect: - Muscle strength and recovery - Fatigue levels - Range of motion - Energy production - Soft tissue flexibility Radiation isn’t designed to harm healthy tissue, but it can still affect the muscles, fascia, and skin around the treatment area. For swimmers — who rely on fluidity, rotation, extension, and power — these changes can feel especially personal. And for a seasoned athlete, the emotional impact can be just as real as the physical one. We know our bodies intimately. We know how they move, how they respond, how they recover. When something threatens that relationship, it shakes us. Facing Radiation at 60 Hits Differently I’ll be 60 in a few months. I never imagined I’d be facing cancer again at this stage of my life. Fifteen years ago, when I had malignant melanoma removed — along with lymph nodes in my groin and under my right arm — I was stronger. More resilient in that almost reckless way you can be in your 40s. I powered through. I didn’t question my body; I trusted it. Now, things feel different. Not worse. Not weaker. Just… different. There’s a gravity to facing cancer later in life. A weight. A deeper awareness of what’s at stake. And yet, there’s also a wisdom — a knowing — that I didn’t have the first time around. The Water Still Holds Me Through all of this, the water remains my sanctuary. My USMS Masters team — the camaraderie, the laughter between sets, the shared language of effort — is part of my healing. The water wraps around me like a full‑body hug, a God‑hug, reminding me that I’m held even when everything else feels uncertain. Swimming is where I remember who I am. Swimming is where I feel whole. Swimming is where I feel strong — even when I’m scared. I can’t imagine what it’s like for those who have been pushed out of our community, or those who have had to navigate life’s hardest challenges alone. The pool has always been my anchor. My compass. My place to breathe. For the Women Who’ve Walked This Path Silently As I move through this next phase of treatment, I’m mindful of something important: I’m not alone. I know there are many women in our sport who have gone through breast cancer quietly, without ever sharing their story. To them, I want to say this: You don’t have to be silent about your breast cancer journey. Your story matters. Your voice matters. Your presence on the pool deck matters. There is space for you in this community. There is space for your fear, your strength, your questions, your healing. There is space for your hope. The Lane Ahead Radiation is just one part of this journey, but it’s a part that has already taught me something: resilience isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s tear‑streaked. Sometimes it’s lying on a treatment table, breathing through fear. Sometimes it’s showing up to the pool even when you don’t feel like yourself. I don’t know exactly what the next months will look like. I don’t know how my body will respond or how my training will evolve. But I do know this: I’m still here. I’m still swimming. I’m still learning what it means to be resilient in a body that has lived, endured, and adapted more than I ever gave it credit for. This is my lane. This is my journey. And I’m choosing to swim it out loud and courageous. About the Author Leann Rossi is an elite United States Masters Swimming (USMS) athlete, coach, and advocate for inclusive, evidence‑based conversations at the intersection of sport, health, and identity.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/injuries-illness/33214/toe-crampsTue, 07 Apr 2026 19:02:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:771001ea-c475-4047-8f24-bf01ca9e85e9MariekeI had two knee replacements last year and didn't kick hardly at all for four months before that. For years before that, I was a minimalist on kicking because when I put in a hard kicking set my IT band would act up. I also have hammer toe. The problem is that I get into the workout my toes cramp really hard. Last night they cramped up and I looked at them and there were two toes that were 90 degrees in the second joint. When this has happened, I cannot continue even to the other end of the pool and it will happen again very soon. Coming back from knee replacements, I have done and still do a lot of pulling. Now there seems to be more pressure between the water and the top of the foot than there was before. It almost always happens in the foot with the worse hammer toes on the leg that had an IT band issue before knee replacements. It happens when I get excited and try to make an interval, when I don't pull enough in warm up, and towards the end of workout, but sometimes near the beginning. I want to swim in the ocean again, but what if my toes cramp? Does anybody have any suggestions? Has anybody else dealt with hammer toes and swimming and severe toe cramps? How does one deal with a swim meet where one cannot use a pull buoy in warm up? Is this something that might get better as I get more used to kicking after knee replacements?https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299163Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:47:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:b9e8ae46-3658-4460-8d16-6a7021b1bbfaElaine KrugmanUnfortunately, the information you are sharing is not backed by science. I choose to get my medical information from Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, both considered two of the most trusted websites by the medical community and Consumer Reports. I also trust the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association, and both would be extremely alarmed by the "information" you are sharing here. Fiber, for example, is well documented and studied as being extremely necessary to help prevent colon cancer, for starters. You have your beliefs, fine. Swimmers who are reading this: I strongly suggest you ignore the recommendations by this "nutrition counselor" and get your nutrition information from the websites I listed above.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299161Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:11:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:debaeaa5-02f2-4ea8-a4c3-8aca148a0b0506KWCI only mentioned my family history because you mentioned my diet and cancer. Fiber isn't required. There is no causal link that fiber is healthy or necessary. I believe a lack of cholesterol in the brain during development causes autism. The Blue Zone documentary was proven inaccurate. They downplayed the amount of lamb, pig, chicken, and fish the people ate. The Mediterranean Sea has 22 countries that border it. All with different cultures and eating habits. 1/3 of which are heavy meat eaters. The "studies" are flawed. Epidemiological studies where they give people a once a year food frequency questionnaire asking them to list quantitatively what they ate. Most people can't remember what they ate last week, let alone for the past year. True, we each have to make decisions. I've made mine. Just just want everyone to have the information and make the most informed decision. I bring to light the lies we've been told about nutrition since the 1800s. Then people make their decision.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/injuries-illness/33211/when-hormones-cancer-and-swimming-collideThu, 26 Mar 2026 13:19:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:eaf5fcf1-8a24-4a62-9cad-43f695070609swimfastatlantaI’ve learned more about hormones in the past few weeks than I ever expected to in my lifetime. When my biopsy results came back, the explanation was both simple and devastating: my estrogen was feeding the cancer. Suddenly, something I never thought about — a hormone quietly doing its job in the background — became the center of my treatment plan and the reason everything in my life was about to shift. Part of that plan is hormone suppression. And like any athlete who trains with intention and purpose, my mind immediately went to the same place it always does: How is this going to affect my swimming? I had goals for 2026. I had meets circled on my calendar. I had been building toward something for over a year. Now I’m staring at this new reality and trying to understand what it means for my body, my training, and the future I thought I was stepping into. Will I be able to train the way I’m used to? Will fatigue take over? Will I need to pivot entirely? These questions don’t come from fear — they come from the discipline of someone who has always planned, prepared, and pushed. Then came a question I never imagined would be part of a cancer diagnosis: Will the medications I need to survive put me at risk for a doping violation? Tamoxifen — a standard treatment for estrogen‑driven breast cancer — is prohibited in competitive sport unless an athlete secures a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Testosterone therapy, if it ever becomes part of a treatment plan, requires the same. It’s surreal to think that fighting cancer and following the rules of my sport can collide like this, but here I am, navigating both at the same time. This whole experience has cracked open a world I didn’t know I was living inside of. I always thought of hormones as something abstract — background chemistry quietly doing its job while I focused on splits, stroke counts, and training cycles. But now I’m seeing how much of sport, medicine, and identity is built on assumptions about hormones that we rarely question out loud. Take prostate cancer. When men are treated for certain types of prostate cancer, their testosterone is often suppressed. Their estrogen levels rise. Their bodies change. They lose muscle mass, gain fat, feel fatigue, experience hot flashes, mood shifts, and changes in libido. In other words, they go through a hormonally induced transition too — but we don’t talk about it that way. We call it “treatment,” not “transition.” We frame it as survival, not identity. And yet, physiologically, there are parallels. If it weren’t for the recent wave of lawsuits and debates over transgender athletes in United States Masters Swimming, I might never have connected these dots: hormones, cancer treatments, performance, and doping regulations are all part of the same ecosystem. The same hormones that are central to gender debates are also central to cancer care. The same medications that save lives can trigger anti‑doping flags. The same bodies we categorize so confidently on paper are, in reality, far more complex. My mind keeps spinning out questions. What about women who’ve had complete mastectomies because of breast cancer — how are they seen on the pool deck? As “less female”? As “inspirational survivors”? As something else entirely? What about women who naturally have higher testosterone levels? They exist. They’ve always existed. How are they perceived when they step onto the blocks? Are they quietly judged as having an “unfair advantage,” even if they’ve never taken a single banned substance? Are they asked to prove their womanhood in ways others never are? And now I’m in this strange intersection myself: a woman with breast cancer, on hormone‑suppressing treatment, navigating anti‑doping rules, thinking about testosterone and estrogen not as abstract markers of gender, but as levers in my medical chart and variables in my training. It’s fascinating and absolutely mind‑boggling. What I keep coming back to is this: we talk about fairness in sport as if it’s simple, as if bodies can be neatly sorted and regulated. But once you start looking at hormones, cancer, surgeries, natural variation, and medical treatments, the picture gets a lot more complicated. There are men whose testosterone is medically suppressed. There are women whose breasts have been removed. There are people whose hormone levels sit outside the “normal” range their whole lives. And all of them are still showing up, still swimming, still trying to belong in lanes that were never designed with this complexity in mind. Maybe the real question isn’t just who fits the rules, but who the rules were written for in the first place — and who gets left out of the conversation when we pretend bodies are simple. I don’t have all the answers. I’m still learning, still adjusting, still figuring out how to train while my hormones are being rewritten by medicine. But I do know this: I’m not alone. There are countless athletes navigating cancer, surgeries, hormone therapies, and bodies that don’t fit neatly into categories. And maybe if we talked about it more — openly, honestly, without fear — we’d build a sporting world that reflects the real diversity of human bodies, not the simplified version we’ve been taught to believe in. This is not the season I planned for. But it’s the one I’m in. And I’m trying to hold space for both truths: that I am a person fighting breast cancer, and I am still an athlete with goals, discipline, and a future worth fighting for. My path may change. My training may look different. But I’m still here, still asking the hard questions, still imagining the lane lines and the water and the possibility that I can come back stronger — not because of what I’ve lost, but because of what I’ve learned. About the Author: Leann Rossi is an elite United States Masters Swimming (USMS) athlete, coach, and advocate for inclusive, evidence‑based conversations at the intersection of sport, health, and identity.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299134Sat, 21 Mar 2026 16:50:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:dc0f22e3-72fe-446f-a00d-a13426c81525Elaine KrugmanYour family cancer stats are a VERY small sample of the population and doesn't prove anything. There is no way to prove that the cause of their cancer was from their whole food plant-based diet. There are many other causes of cancer besides diet. A meat diet like yours is lacking in fiber; you might want to consider regular colonoscopies. Do you also believe vaccines cause autism? You can always find studies to support your belief... Personally, I choose to believe the studies that have concluded the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest. The existing Blue Zones in the world have convinced me. I choose to get a lot of my protein from salmon, other fish and seafood, and nuts.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299133Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:31:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:0f30b8bb-de0b-4f45-b31a-3e1c8703dc1306KWCI totally understand the issue that is GERD. It wasn't until I adopted an animal-based diet that I was able to trash my bottles and bottles of Tums and Rolaids. I always recommend people steer clear of both bananas and oatmeal. A medium banana and 1 cup cooked oatmeal each contain 27g of carbs. That's a 54g carb snack. Just remember, eventually, all carbs (except fiber) convert to glucose in the body. I believe this fuels metabolic disease, we call it aging. If you haven't done so already, I recommend to all my clients over 40 to have a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC score) and a Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT). Both of these provide assessment of cardiovascular risk. Insurance will not cover the imaging, but they are relatively inexpensive (around $100 each). Happy Swimming!https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299132Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:24:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:1bf1b6b6-67f4-4443-aa24-2812ac8294b306KWCNot at all. There is a great deal of research out showing that dietary cholesterol does not impact blood serum cholesterol. There is evidence that in the 1950's, the Sugar Research Foundation paid off 3 Harvard Researchers to say that saturated fat and cholesterol caused heart disease. There is no causation link between high LDL and heart disease, unless you are an overweight type 2 diabetic with a metabolic disease. Cancer is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction and fueled by sugar. There is no causation link that shows eating red meat causes ANY disease. Another propaganda lie in an attempt to get people off the most nutrient dense food - cow. For perspective, here is my family cancer stats: 2 - whole food plant-based members died from cancer 1 - Standard American Diet (SAD) eater died from cancer 3 - SAD eaters got and survived cancer. By those numbers, a person is better off eating meat as part of a *** diet than be plant-based. The research is mostly epidemiological (observational). Meaning they give people a food frequency questionnaire and say "okay, tell me what you've eaten for the past year with quantitative accuracy". The worst I saw was every 4 years. These studies compare plant-based to SAD, not plant-based to animal-based. The SAD peoples diet generally consists of 45-60% carbohydrates, I generally remain less than 10%. I have seen studies where they count lasagna as "meat" and a hamburger with fries and a coke as "meat". It's one of the great lies of the past 2 centuries. Don't forget that veggies also contain oxalates, toxins, and anti-nutrients. They are not all sunshine and roses. I have helped both vegans and vegetarians introduce beef into their diet. The response is always the same, "I didn't realize how sick I was."https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299131Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:16:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:37e20644-3cc7-4d34-bd16-c4b1bafbd609Todd MoranMy biggest problem with swimming is acid reflux and my need to time my swimming with when I eat. In the early morning, I need something like a small meal with a banana and oatmeal. I will then have a protein drink like Orgain after I swim. A late afternoon swim is the best due to timing the workout between lunch and dinner. My overall strategy is to have more small meals throughout the day. I like the convenience of protein drinks to help get most of my protein intake.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299130Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:46:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:2254951d-8906-49c9-9d27-7cc38e0b422aElaine KrugmanAnother thought... Aren't you concerned about your cholesterol level and getting colon cancer (or other cancers) with you current diet? I would be!https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299128Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:02:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:74e5e820-1158-4d21-9f5a-30b9626f9163Elaine KrugmanI edited my previous post, because I forgot to add that our smoothie also contains Greek yogurt. Calculating it out, I am getting 50 grams of carbs and 25 grams of sugars in my smoothie. The 1/2 carton of Orgain protein drink that I have before my swim has NO carbs and NO sugar. It sits better in my stomach than food before I swim, which is about 40 minutes after I wake up.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299125Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:03:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:e1443b74-4c40-4f5c-9ca3-5ce69736510106KWCJust some friendly advice. As a nutrition coach, I feel compelled to respond. I don't promote shakes or smoothies. Of note, plant-based protein isn't as bioavailable to humans as animal protein. It's good that the brand you're drinking contains a small serving of carbohydrates. So many protein shakes contain too many ingredients and too much sugar. I'd be more concerned about the smoothie. Estimating quantities, you could be consuming 60g of carbs and approx. 30g of sugar. Most carbohydrates (simple, complex, fructose) eventually convert to glucose in the body. We've been lied to about nutrition for the past 2 centuries. We require fats and proteins for life and health but not carbohydrates. Our body can use gluconeogenesis to produce the glucose we need, using amino acids, glycerol, and lactate. Granted, some people can consume carbohydrates and not see issues for decades, we call it aging. This information may not change your mind, but perhaps it will help someone that is confused about nutrition. Happy Swimming!https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exercise/299118Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:47:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:76321dc3-7d04-46b7-9eed-16138d10d204Elaine KrugmanI prefer no solids before I swim in the morning. I buy the cartons of Orgain plant based protein drinks at Costco and drink half of it before I swim, and then the other half immediately after I swim. When I return home, my husband makes us the BEST smoothies: Orgain protein powder, Orgain Creatine powder(a new addition), Greek yogurt, vanilla soymilk, frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, chia seeds, and flax seeds.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/nutrition/33206/fasted-exerciseMon, 16 Mar 2026 01:14:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:d5ffe29f-0c26-4da7-90c8-a9b7d29a60fe06KWCTo eat or not to eat prior to exercise, that is the question! There are several factors that go into this decision: What is your daily nutrition? Mine - I’m animal-based, low-carb ketogenic. This means that I maintain my carbohydrate intake to less than 5% of my overall nutrition. I generally consume 60% fats and 35% protein. How often do you exercise? Me - daily cardio/weight training, and swimming 2-3 times a week. What is your goal? Mine - live until 120, swim into my 100s, and maintain overall general good health. My preference? I prefer to exercise in a fasted state. Eating anything before exercise tends to make me feel sluggish, whether in the gym or in the water. If I’m putting in a double workout, cardio/strength training in the morning (0600) and a swim in the afternoon (1500), I eat breakfast after my morning workout and dinner after I swim. Caution - The more carbohydrate dependent you are, the more difficult it is to exercise in a fasted state. When not to exercise fasted - if you feel dizzy or nauseous, stop exercising and get some fats and proteins (bacon and eggs).fastingNutritionhttps://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/health-and-wellness/33205/anyone-ever-dealt-with-cracked-ribsSat, 14 Mar 2026 16:13:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:a67b050f-92ab-4cff-85bb-1539aa52f38667KingWell, what the title says. A week into the injury. Have had a lot going on, and had just been getting back into a groove when I did it. Now I'm trying to figure out when to try, again. Tried to do a little too much around the house (just built, and I'm trying to clear all my car related equipment out of the old and install into the new), which really made things worse. Don't want to repeat that by trying to get back in too soon. Going to set up a bike trainer to try to get some sort of cardio/conditioning. TOday is the first day I have felt that the pain level has started to get a tad better, which fits with the stuff I was prescribed (one week's worth) to manage the pain. But wondering if anyone has had this before? Fortunately nothing displaced. Fingers, too, but those aren't bothering me, just won't be able to do pull sets until they get a little better. The other thing is the big fear with broken or cracked ribs is pneumonia, as folks tend to not breathe as deeply, which can cause a collapsed lung. So exercise will be my friend on that end, as well.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/health-and-wellness/33190/cold-while-swimming/299093Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:18:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:00b9cd31-0942-4b0a-839d-8e13cef1c3cdJim Miller, MDI am afraid that this phenomenon is simple physiology. As we age our metabolic rate slows down resulting in you producing less internal heat. I addition our skin thins (which I am afraid is too obvious) so there is less insulation. These two factors result in less cold tolerance. One other factor to consider are medications which can also affect metabolism as well as underlying medical problems such as diabetes, hypothyroidism. One of my workout groups swims at 80 degrees and the hot tub is completely full following practice! One other warning: Be very mindful of open water events particularly in late May and early June.https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/health-and-wellness/33190/cold-while-swimming/299088Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:04:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:cce48dc1-606b-42eb-b20a-ce446f329bf8Elaine KrugmanI can relate, King Frog! At the National Senior Games in Des Moines, the water temperature was 75-76 degrees, according to the estimates of most people I asked. I was literally shivering during my 200 butterfly race! Georgia Tech's pool is also FREEZING (76-77), and I have had to give up swimming at the annual St. Nick's meet because of it. I have dysautonomia, and at that meet in 2023, both the water AND air were cold. Bruce was sitting on deck in a long sleeve shirt and was cold. I had to keep running to the shower to warm up, which messed up my thermoregulation even more. After the meet, my body temperature was 95.7, and it didn't climb above 96.5 until more than a month later. It was a month of hell! You both have my sympathy!https://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/health-and-wellness/33190/cold-while-swimming/299086Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:31:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:d58f2828-4c1f-43e0-8d8b-b36cf5254952Allen Starkoh yes, I’ve had that experience. I’ve always had trouble with warming up in cold water ever since age group. Now it’s just a lot worse. I’m 77 so you’re slightly older than me, but I’ve been noticing this increasing cold intolerance for about the last five years. I went to a meet three years ago where the water temperature was probably 77 definitely below 78 and after trying to warm up the first day, I just did dry land, warm-ups for the rest of the meet because I was colder when I finished my warm-up than before I startedhttps://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/health-and-wellness/33190/cold-while-swimmingFri, 06 Mar 2026 14:32:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:2c971e64-0202-4ed4-8606-0ce088dfd530078RRI’m 78 and I am a 49 + year USMS swimmer. As I grow older I am increasingly feeling colder, but lately it seems to be much worse! When I get in the YMCA competitive pool (79 degrees) I have a lot of trouble staying in the pool for a full workout. This is a 2000 yard swim at a very fast pace with a pulse 133 + or - (although slowing year by year)! I used to warm after 300 to 500 yards into the swim, but now I am still cold at 2000 yards. When I was younger, I was always warm and my wife was cold; now we have changed places. Anyone else having similar experiences?Healthhttps://community.usms.org/health-and-nutrition/f/injuries-illness/33163/swimming-through-breast-cancerMon, 02 Feb 2026 19:04:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:abff6215-98ff-48db-8a9e-4bafd50149f1swimfastatlantaI am just a week into my recent diagnosis and looking for swimmer support. I am hoping to have a scheduled surgery in March followed by treatment. Swimming definitely got me through my first diagnosis back in 2010 but this is different and I am older, so bouncing back mentally and physically is going to be some of my biggest challenges. Hopefully our swimming community will have some experience, strenght and hope to share- I am definitely going to need it.