Who is libby znaimer

This article was published more than 12 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. Libby Znaimer had to stop working out because she was undergoing extremely aggressive pancreatic cancer treatment. She is the definition of zoomer: a culture- and tech-savvy baby boomer who works out - and doesn't let a potentially fatal illness slow her down. Despite a lengthy layoff, her cardiovascular conditioning has held up, but she complains her skill set needs a boost. I resumed my strengthening workout last month after abandoning it for several months.

My goal is to do that twice a week, in addition to the tennis. For the last year, I've stopped and started both playing tennis and working out because I was undergoing extremely aggressive pancreatic cancer treatment - my second bout of cancer [having survived breast cancer three years earlier] I was much sicker and the treatment was much tougher.

I stopped almost entirely for about six months. At the end of January, "I got back on the court and in the gym. I played for several months and my workout was extremely light.

Just when I started doing better, I had to stop again for nearly a month. I started to feel the effects of radiation after five weeks of that treatment. I started up again before I felt completely well, but I played better than I had in years. Before and after cancer, Ms. Znaimer's diet and habits remain unchanged.

I cook healthy food at home; I eat fruit and yogurt in the mornings, salad and half a grilled-veggie wrap, fish, chicken, steak and veggies for lunch or dinner. And I get plenty of sleep. I like to eat. These days, the Wychwood Park local finds herself busier than ever. In addition to helping older brother Moses Znaimer grow and strengthen the ZoomerMedia empire which includes Classical In , she published a book called In Cancerland, detailing her own journey with the disease, its physical and mental toll and how she learned to cope and continue to enjoy life.

Znaimer first became aware that she might have breast cancer after finding a lump late one night, just 10 weeks after a mammogram. When she was officially diagnosed in June , her life changed rapidly. After nine months of treatment, followed by surgery, Znaimer found herself in remission.

However, barely a year passed when stomach pains sent Znaimer back to the doctors where she received an even more grim diagnosis: pancreatic cancer. There are few symptoms, and often by the time a person is diagnosed, the cancer is well advanced. After five years, the survival rate from pancreatic cancer is approximately five per cent. In addition, Znaimer says it is very difficult to decide on a treatment plan because of all the scientific information patients need to disseminate.

However, in an odd twist of fate, her trial with breast cancer gave her a reason to hope. After the diagnosis, Znaimer was tested for a genetic mutation that, when present, puts people at greater risk for breast cancer.

She came out positive. In the face of pancreatic cancer, that same genetic mutation opened up an innovative treatment that Znaimer decided to try.