Get to Know Missoula’s Exercise-Based Cancer Survivor Support Program, Fit to Fight - By Brent Dodge

​Missoula isn’t what most would consider a “big” city. Yet it has available a support program for cancer survivors that big cities would love to duplicate. It’s a program called Fit to Fight. Their tag line says it all:  Stronger than Cancer!
Get to know this exciting program which was founded by Samantha Schmidt, PT of Alpine Physical Therapy and Mary Lynn Eiseman of the Peak Health and Wellness Center.

THE NEED

​Ironically cancer treatment is often more brutal than the disease. Treatments leave the body diminished in function, affecting one’s state of mind and quality of life. The current medical model of cancer treatment may resolve the disease, but the resulting negative side-effects are often left unaddressed. Medical studies prove that exercise helps minimize the detrimental side-effects of cancer treatment, aiding in the return to a better quality of life. FIT TO FIGHT helps cancer survivors re-establish trust in their bodies and return to daily life as productive members of our community.

THE MISSION 

Empower cancer survivors to improve their quality of life through a program of fitness and health.

THE GOALS

• Provide positive effects of group exercise
• Provide opportunity for social interaction, support, and exchange with others who are fighting or have fought cancer
• Involve the community in supporting cancer patients and aiding survivors in their return to a quality of life that is productive and satisfying

THE PROGRAM 

The FIT TO FIGHT program is an exercised based cancer support program and runs three 8-week sessions per year. We meet twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6pm at The PEAK Main Club. The format is a small organized group exercise session, with individual tailoring. Each session consists of stretching, breathing & relaxation, resistive strengthening, and endurance training. Sessions are led by an exercise physiologist, supervised directly by a physical therapist.
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The PT directly oversees the program and is available to all participants for questions or advice. However, this program does not replace the important individual skilled PT that many oncology patients may need initially.

Watch this newly updated video on Fit to Fight.

​For more information, visit the Fit to Fight website by clicking here. Or call Alpine Physical Therapy at 406-251-2323.