Today is my father's 73 birthday - a milestone by any stretch, but even more remarkable that he nearly died last year, and has survived two bouts of a very aggressive cancer. At the beginning of the second treatment, he was told to get his affairs in order. They were going to re-mortgage the house to send him to get a specialist treatment in Boston. But he responded well to the drugs, and this morning, we went for a quick stand up paddleboard in freezing Victorian waters - a bit of a loophole surf, as we're not meant to visit people, but if we see people out surfing, that's different - or in the carpark. It felt like nothing short of a miracle. Two years ago I was surfing and missing my father, thinking that I might never surf with him again. But miracles happen.

I'll never forget how shocked we were when he got the diagnosis. Even more shocked than when he had his heart attack the previous year. He has always been the fittest and healthiest person I know, doing yoga all the way up to his illness (and even doing it in the cancer ward), surfing, kiteboarding, bushwalking, jogging. On top of that, he didn't drink a lot, never had smoked, and he was also a vegetarian. Yep. Dad was not a candidate for cancer, or a heart attack.

He was shocked to. What was the point, he said, of being so fit all his life, but getting cancer anyway? He was quickly reminded by us and his doctors that his quality of life had been excellent up until this point. His philosophy 'just keep moving' had kept him living life to the full. And it was what was going to get him through the very difficult couple of years to follow. In fact, they wouldn't have even tried that aggressive treatment on a man his age who was less fit than him - it would have likely killed him, and very nearly killed Dad. Cancer drugs are hard core.

And the 'just keep moving' mantra that had driven his existence didn't stop when the treatment started. Of course there would be days where he was vomiting, or so ill he couldn't move, crying because he genuinely believed he was going to die, and so did we. There were days when the steroids make him so depressed he didn't want to do anything, or he was so tired he couldn't get out of bed. But on his 'up' days, he would 'just keep moving', because even if you have cancer - and perhaps especially if you have cancer - physical exercise is good for you.

Mum and Dad, ten years ago.

Mum and Dad, last Christmas

Mum and Dad, before we were in lockdown.

Research suggests (there are plenty of studies online) that there is a real basis for exercise being part of a cancer treatment, as well as post treatment. It might sound like a no brainer, but it helps prevent muscle loss and builds strength (Dad's legs were like sticks for a while there), reduces mental health issues such as depression, improves nourishing sleep, and reduces the risk of some side effects such as nausea or fatigue. Keeping up a fitness regime helps make your body - and the treatment - be more effective at destroying tumor cells and helps reduce the risk of other chronic diseases and cancers.

So every chance Dad got, he'd be walking, or doing yoga, or other exercises. Some days I'd go to visit and he'd be doing squats, drip in hand. Post treatment, he's been keeping up his exercises and walking alot, and finally, he is able to go paddle boarding. Like today, with me. A blessing. A joy. We have no way of knowing how much exercise helped, or Mum's attention to a healthy, nutritious diet, or the treatment he received - experimental, but very successful - but we certainly know that without it, he wouldn't have got anywhere near his pre cancer physique or physicality back. There's no way he'd be out in the water again. No way.

Dad and my uncle, post surf.

I always think about how much natural medicine is preventative medicine - not the bandaids of tinctures and diets we apply, but what we do to prevent illness in the first place. Dad couldn't do anything about his cancer - in fact, the Department of Veteran Affairs in Australia admitted responsibility in writing for the very likely fact that the huge amount of chemicals on the ground and water in Vietnam was the cause - but if he hadn't been as fit as he was, I don't think he would have lived.

I feel I have my Dad back, for a few years at least. He's looking so healthy, and he's even joking around again, and keen for adventure.

As controversial a topic as cancer might be, particularly in the natural health world and in alternative circles which may eschew contemporary medicine's treatment methods, there's nothing controversial about how exercise can improve your quality of life, and maybe even save it a little when the time comes.

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