It was 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, the 2nd of May in 2019. I was grabbing a trolley at Checkers when my gynae called to tell me I had cancer. The news delivered was unceremonious and clinical—as if I wasn’t a person, but a flawed data point.
In that moment, your body feels like it no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the doctors, the medical aids, and the disease.
That is why Step 1 of the Reclaim Programme is Move It or Lose It.
Reclaiming Your Physical Autonomy
Cancer takes a toll that only survivors truly understand. Your muscles, stamina, and balance are under siege. But more than that, your confidence in your body takes a hit. You stop trusting the vessel that is supposed to carry you.
This isn’t about "fitness" in the traditional sense. You don’t have to be strong to start—you start so you can become strong. Step 1 is about rebuilding your physical foundation one intentional breath, stretch, or step at a time.
Why Move Now?
When I found my lump, it was a "unicorn"—a type of lump that typically isn't tested. Because my sister and I insisted on the biopsy, I took charge before the system could fail me further.
Moving your body is the same act of defiance. It is you telling the cancer and the trauma: "This body is still mine."
In this step, we focus on:
Understanding your new baseline: We don't compare today to the "before" version of you.
Starting tiny: We build gradually to avoid burnout or injury.
Celebrating micro-wins: If you walked to the gate today and you couldn't yesterday, that is a victory.
Intentional Reconnection: Safe movement helps you stop seeing your body as the enemy and start seeing it as a partner.
The Foundation of the "New You"
We can never go back to the version of us before the "C" word entered the chat. But we get to decide who the NEW ME is. That rebirth starts with a physical commitment.
If you don't move it, the trauma settles. When you move, you begin the process of shaking off the "Survival Uniform" and stepping back into the ring.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE LIFE TIPS
Step 1 is about autonomy.
It's about taking back the keys to your own house.
You might need a minute, and you'll definitely feel the weight,
but we're going to get up and do it again until we're through it.
Join the Fight This is just the first round of an 8-step journey toward becoming Intact. If you want these steps delivered directly to your inbox, or want to be the first to know when the full Reclaim Programme launches in early 2026, [Sign up for the Newsletter here].
Bring Reclaim to Your Community I am building this framework to ensure no survivor has to fight the aftermath alone. If you represent a support group or facility and want to discuss bringing this facilitated programme to your warriors, [Reach out to me here].