Editor’s Note: Professional runner Molly Bookmyer and her husband had to deal with a testicular cancer diagnosis shortly after they got married. She’s sharing how they made plans together during treatment to keep life normal and what they’ve done since to make the most out of life.
As an athlete, I have learned the importance of goal setting: understanding my current fitness level and where I want my hard work to take me. This mindset helped Eric and me as we went through treatment for Eric’s cancer. During his first round of chemo, I set a goal to run a marathon. I achieved that goal and continued to improve, eventually qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials and placing third in the US 25K Road Championships. Making plans for my athletics helped me process what we were going through.
In addition to the goal of beating cancer, Eric and I made plans for our future together. We decided to purchase our first home, to travel the country and to spend time with our family. Having hope and something to look forward to kept us positive during this challenging time.
Here are some of our favorite memories we have made post diagnosis:
- Bought our first house
- Spent six weeks training at altitude in Flagstaff, AZ
- Became an aunt and uncle
- I qualified for the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials
I understand that staying positive can feel challenging during treatments. That’s why I believe it’s best to start small. Make small plans for the future that involve things you love to do. If you love to run, set a goal to finish a local 5K. If cooking is your passion, aim to learn a new recipe to share with those you love. If you love to travel, plan a weekend trip to a place you’ve never been. Making plans for the future gives us hope and adds vitality to our lives.
Here’s how you can keep making plans:
- Start small
- Focus on activities that bring you joy
- Set timelines: make plans for six months, a year, two years and five years down the road
As Eric and I continue with life post diagnosis we have plenty of future plans that we continue to make. One of our biggest plans for the next year is training for and competing in the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials. This event gathers the top men and women in the country, who have achieved qualifying times to compete for the opportunity to represent the USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The trials will take place in February 2024, and leading up to them, I have plans to participate in several races across the country to improve my fitness. Running has played a tremendous role in my life and has become even more significant after Eric’s diagnosis. It provides an outlet for the stress and tension that life brings. Being able to compete against the best marathoners in the country is something that I am proud of and keeps me motivated to prioritize regular checkups and screenings to ensure my health.
OhioHealth’s expert care team can help you and your loved ones navigate a scary diagnosis and empower you to keep making plans. Their dedicated team, including nurse navigators and physicians, is committed to offering each patient and their family world-class treatment in a compassionate environment. With physicians who are among the nation’s top doctors and access to leading-edge cancer treatments, you can receive personalized, compassionate care close to home. OhioHealth provides the care that empowers you to dream about the future.
