Yahoo Lifestyle 'Why I Returned To Bodybuilding At 75 After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis'
After I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, my world was turned upside down, but I refused to let fear take over—I wanted to do something. So six months ago, I picked up
the phone to call the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation for more information before signing up to compete.
The promoters were thrilled to hear I was interested because they want more representation in the Masters (over 50) age group, especially in the women’s division. I’m currently 75 and I felt my participation could make a meaningful impact for the sport and in my own life.
Natural bodybuilding is all about building up your muscles and sculpting your physique the old-fashioned way—without steroids or any of those artificial enhancers. Just good, clean hard work, lots of lifting weights, and eating right. I competed once before—but that was 22 years ago.
My relationship with fitness began in my childhood as a tomboy who loved movement. I’m a mover and a doer—I’ve always loved to move.
My love for physical activity blossomed through college, where I fenced and danced, among other badass and acrobatic pursuits. I don’t have many regrets in life, but I do wish I learned martial arts.
When the fitness movement gained momentum in the 70s, I dove in head first, becoming involved with fitness studios like Elaine Powers Figure Salons (what a throwback!)
I decided to start working out with a personal trainer, who encouraged me to enter my first bodybuilding competition.
I was 54 at the time, and the oldest person competing. I placed in the competition, but I wasn’t particularly interested in signing up for another one. I quickly realized that what I loved most about bodybuilding was the training process, not game day.
Throughout my training phase, people would stop me in the gym and on the street to ask me what I eat, how I train, or tell me I inspired them. I loved the feeling of inspiring others just by doing something I genuinely love, which ultimately motivated me to get my personal training and group fitness certifications in 2005.
While I was working with clients as a personal trainer, I recognized a strong connection between posture, confidence, and self esteem. I went on to develop a posture program using resistance bands and I traveled around New York City to teach it at various professional conferences and schools.
Fast forward to 2023: My routine was disrupted emerging from the pandemic, leading me to delay seeking medical attention for a lump I initially attributed to soreness from doing 80+ pushups per day. By the time I sought help, the cancer had progressed, ultimately metastasizing to my liver. Despite the severity of my diagnosis, I opted for lumpectomies and radiation over mastectomy and chemotherapy, prioritizing my quality of life and minimizing time away from the fitness routines that allow me to feel centered and at my best.
Bodybuilding was more than just a physical challenge; it was a journey of self-acceptance, empowerment, and relentless commitment to myself.
I knew I needed a challenge to help me move forward with my life following the diagnosis and I immediately thought of bodybuilding. The sport is all about allowing your body to reach its full potential and accepting it as it is, which is just what I needed. Preparing for the competition involved a 16-week training program under the guidance of my trainer (even though I’m a trainer, I like working with a trainer for my own workouts), who I’d been working with for three years and trusted completely. Despite setbacks from my cancer treatment, I was determined to rebuild my strength with conservative progressive overload, thoughtful programming, and a focus on balance and symmetry in my physique.
During those 16 weeks, I strength trained an average of three times a week and did cardio twice a week. My trainer made sure to vary the exercises to keep sessions challenging and prevent plateaus. We transitioned from my typical program of doing three sets of 10 reps at a particular weight to heavier weights with four sets of eight reps on average, targeting areas of my body that needed more focus, like my lower body, which I’ve always found tough to work on. We mixed up the exercises often—for example, switching up my favorite exercise, cable rows, to bent-over rows, single-arm rows, and other variations—to ensure that my muscles were consistently being pushed in different ways.
In addition to in-person sessions with my trainer, I also worked with a virtual coach who taught me the bodybuilding poses and created an on-stage routine for me. So, I was pretty busy with three sessions per week at the gym and online group and private coaching workshops.
Mentally, the journey was tough but incredibly rewarding. I had to overcome the self-consciousness caused by the physical changes from my cancer, such as swelling in my belly from the liver metastasis. Before I could step on stage in front of a bunch of strangers in a spray tan and minimal clothing, I first had to accept the way I looked. I’ve always been confident in myself, but this experience demanded a new level of acceptance and reinforced my belief that physical fitness and mental resilience are deeply intertwined.
In June 2024, I competed in my second-ever bodybuilding competition.
I placed first in the Masters division of the Hercules Pro/Am World Natural Bodybuilding Federation in White Plains, New York.
Fitness, for me, has always been about the journey, not the outcome. It's not about winning or losing, it's about pushing my limits, trusting my body, and finding joy in the process. However I must admit, this accomplishment felt pretty amazing, and I’m still amazed that I did it.
My cancer has remained stable throughout the last year, and I’ve chosen to continue living with it rather than opting for aggressive treatment. I had thought about entering another competition taking place this September, but realized it would be too much along with launching my new motivational and posture platform, GET UNBENT. I'm planning to compete next in early spring 2026! Meanwhile, I'm training hard so I maintain my gains, while enjoying a respite from the pre-comp diet.
These four factors were key to my strength transformation success.
1. I found a trainer who I trusted completely and who played an indispensable role.
Having someone guide me through a results-driven strength training program made all the difference, allowing me to feel supported throughout the journey. My trainer's approach was not just about lifting heavier weights but also about ensuring symmetry and balance in my physique, which is so crucial for bodybuilding. We focused on areas that needed improvement, and my trainer always adapted the routine based on my needs and any limitations. This trust and consistent communication were crucial, especially during my recovery period when I had to rebuild my strength.
2. I didn’t let fear take over during the bodybuilding prep process and ever since my cancer diagnosis.
I like to say, ‘Feel your fear, then go through it.’ I don’t want to say I never felt fear—I was scared to death after my diagnosis. But then I realized, there’s so much more I want to do, and bodybuilding became a way to push through my fears. It’s all about giving yourself permission to find what lights you up, then go after it.
3. I focused on the journey, not just the outcome.
I gave myself permission to not let self-consciousness hold me back from pursuing this goal, regardless of what the finish line would look like. Practicing self-acceptance throughout my training (and life!) and finding support in my community throughout this process was paramount.
4. I continued to prioritize my nutrition.
As soon as I received my cancer diagnosis, I cut out alcohol and fried foods, cut way back on sugar, and committed to a clean diet. This made my bodybuilding prep smoother since I was already eating this way. I don’t view it as discipline, but as a commitment to myself and my goals. During prep, meals became simpler and more focused on fueling my body for the rigorous training ahead.
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