Renald Buhagiar has his sights on national bodybuilding glory after fighting his way back from cancer. Picture: Eugene Hyland Source: News Limited
NINE months after getting the all-clear from oncologists, Renald Buhagiar has fought back from body building *retirement to claim the Mr Victoria title.
And the Traralgon big man is not done.
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After winning the International Natural Bodybuilding Association’s Masters championship, the day after coaching his son’s under-12 soccer team to premiership glory, Mr Buhagiar is preparing to defend his title next year as well as compete in the national championships.
On his 48th birthday, he found a lump in his neck.
It was soon diagnosed as throat cancer.
New research suggests exercise could help prevent some cancers, reduce treatment side effects and aid recovery. Picture: Eugene Hyland
He swapped his vigorous daily workout — early morning treadmill and abdominal work, before an afternoon weights session — and instead, walked 40 minutes a day between Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and his sister’s house during seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy.
“Seeing the other people in hospital made me so strong because I felt so lucky compared to a lot of people,” Mr Buhagiar said.
After getting the all-clear from oncologists in January, the 50-year-old father of three prepared himself for retirement from body building.
“I’d lost so much strength and size. I was so weak,” he said. “I thought if I’m going to beat this, if I’m going to get strong again, it would be like climbing Mount Everest.
“I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to give this a go’. The hunger was still there.”
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre exercise physiologist Andrew Murn*ane said while it was once believed people should avoid physical activity during cancer treatment, there was growing evidence exercise could help prevent some cancers, reduce treatment side effects and aid recovery.
The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne last week, heard that specially designed resistance and aerobic exercise programs could increase survival and reduce speed of bone cancer progression.
brigid.oconnell@news.com.au
Originally published as From chemo to Mr Victoria
