Cancer Taught Me: Jackie’s Story

I live bravely by staying fit. I do that by doing CrossFit at CrossFit Lewes. CrossFit is constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity. I started when I was 62 years old when I would have to stop and breathe before I could walk up stairs.

Now, at nearly 66, I am in great physical and mental shape. I have done things I never thought I could do, slowly at first but I still did them. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 at age 65, for the second time. I had 16 sessions of radiation. Once I recovered, I exercised
hard. I wanted to be in the best shape to battle it.

I like to say, ‘It’s a good sore,’ because I feel good when I work out. It was a jolt when I was diagnosed again, but I want to be able to do things with my grandkids. I have a lot of life left in me.

-Jackie Shockley, breast cancer survivor