One of the greatest sources of strength, when we're going through cancer treatment, is the support of our loved ones.

However, their struggle to cope and the concerns they deal with are often put aside as all of the focus and attention is given to the person with cancer.   A year ago I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Scott Keppel who is an accomplished trainer, an entrepreneur, and the husband of a two-time Breast cancer survivor, Melissa Keppel.

In this episode, we hear Scott's perspective on his wife's diagnosis and how he responded by gaining more knowledge, writing a book and creating a fundraiser that is changing the way a community supports breast cancer patients and survivors.  

Scott is also certified in working with women post breast cancer treatment and we'll hear his insights on what to do and what not to do as you work to rebuild health after breast cancer treatment.

 

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Read the full transcript: 

0:01
This is Laura Lummer, the breast cancer recovery coach. I'm a healthy lifestyle coach, a clinical or Aveda specialist, a personal trainer, and I'm also a breast cancer survivor. In this podcast, we talk about healthy thinking and mindfulness practices, eating well, moving your body for health and longevity. And we'll also hear from other breast cancer survivors who have reengaged with life, and have incredible stories to share. This podcast is your go to resource for getting back to life after breast cancer.

0:38
Welcome to Episode 14 of the breast cancer recovery coach. My name is Laura Lummer. And today's episode is titled surviving breast cancer as a spouse, how one man is changing the world in support of his wife. And I love this episode because we're going to be talking with Scott Campbell, who is the owner of Scott's Training Systems in Chandler, Arizona. Scott is married to his beautiful wife, Melissa, and she Melissa is a two time breast cancer survivor. So we're going to hear a little bit about Melissa story from Scott's perspective. And the reason I want it well, there were two reasons I wanted to come at it from this perspective, one because I think it's really important for us to realize that nobody goes through breast cancer alone. And our loved ones, walk through this experience support us through this experience, and you know, have their challenges in dealing with what we go through as well. I've sometimes been hurt to say, you know, it's easier to go through breast cancer when you're the person with it, because you kind of know your own limits and your own ability to cope. Whereas when you have to watch someone else go through cancer, there's just an overwhelming in my experience and overwhelming feeling of helplessness, it can be a real struggle. But Scott has taken his experience of watching his wife go through this and of coping with being in this position of helplessness and in as far as the respect of being able to cure her change her or fix it. And he took his experience and said, Okay, what do I have control over? What do I have the ability to do to show my support, and to just make a difference and use his special set of skills and talent to do anything that he could do for his wife while she was going through breast cancer treatment, and how he continues to support her and support other breast cancer survivors now going forward. He has a great story. And I know Scott from a mutual friend of ours, Trish Blackwell, and back at a fitness conference in 2016. Trish gave a virtual introduction to Scott and I knowing that we had that common experience with breast cancer. And he and I talked over the phone and I was immediately just taken with his candor. But his candor with a real gentleness, an authentic gentleness. And why I appreciate that is because you know, when you're coming out of cancer when you're trying to get fit when you're trying to create a healthy lifestyle program. You don't need to work with a yes person, you need to work with someone who knows the direction to take you. That's going to fit into your lifestyle that's going to help you to achieve your goals. But who isn't also afraid to address where they see you dealing with challenges or making excuses for reasons why you haven't done something or can't do something. And I found that to be a really fantastic quality about Scott, he can address whatever's going on as a client, what is going on with his people as he's constructing their programs. And he does it in a way that's very honest and very open, but also very empathetic and understanding to the challenges that women go through after breast cancer treatment. When we initially talked, he talked to me about the certifications that he earned after finding out that his wife did have breast cancer. He talked to me about a book he wrote and I just thought he was amazing. So fast forward. Several months later, I was still struggling with figuring out how to get over this constant challenge with weight loss and I decided you know what, I need to have somebody look at what I'm doing and look at my program from an outside perspective. And the first person I thought of what Scott because I know that he understands the unique challenges that a woman and especially a woman after breast cancer treatment goes through. So I did reach out to her

5:00
I worked with him on a 10 week program. And it was so enlightening. And again, he's very honest. But he's also very forthright and saying, here's the things you need to do. And here's where you're sticking to it. And here's where you're not sticking to it. And, you know, not so much, why aren't you doing it, get your stuff together, get out there. But he came at my whole nutrition and fitness program more from the perspective of, you know, what's going on in your mind what's going on with you emotionally? Why are you making these choices instead of these choices, and really full force me to open my eyes to what I was doing with my own fitness program, or little places where I had allowed myself to get stuck mentally or emotionally from challenges that I came across or from barriers that I was having a hard time getting through. Anyway, I learned a tremendous amount, I had some great success with him. And I really want more women to hear about Scott, I think he has a lot to offer. And he has a just a great story. But he's just got a great heart. He's great guy. And he's out there not only working in what he loves and what he is passionate about, but doing it with something he's passionate about, and really helping and serving a lot of women in doing so. So Scott is a nationally certified fitness and nutrition coach. And he specializes in breast cancer recovery, pre and postnatal pageantry and weight loss. He's based in Chandler, Arizona, as I said a minute ago, and he has a whole team of coaches that work to really empower and educate and motivate clients all around the world. So his programs are offered virtually you may be thinking, Wait, if he's in Arizona, and you're in California, how did you guys work together? Well, he's got a system that's just down pat. So you can work with him from anywhere. And he, you know, emailed me charts and logs and things that I needed to use. And we spoke over the phone, and I asked questions through email if something came up. And it was just a really, really great program that didn't require a lot of additional time, you know, connecting and meeting and doing things to figure it out. So he's got a great way of handling his clients virtually. So he does both in person and online coaching. And Scott thinks that it's really important to develop fitness and nutrition plans that are very specific to a client's needs. And I totally agree, each one of us is different. Each one of our needs are different, our lifestyles are different, our bodies respond differently, and that he is open to that and understands that is a really valuable thing to find in a fitness coach. So among all of the roles Scott plays, he's the husband of his amazing wife, Melissa. And he's used her battle with cancer to do something very positive in becoming a certified post breast cancer recovery coach. He's written a book titled, The Fit Guide to post breast cancer recovery. And he hosts an annual event called busting butts to save breasts every October. And he's going to talk a little bit about that in this upcoming episode as well. Really cool event a lovely put together, it's not just a normal 5k. But it has lots of fun into it. And he just has this beautiful vision also of expanding this event across different states having different coaches jump in and follow the model that he's said and just do it everywhere to support whatever their favorite breast cancer organization or charitable organization might be, to just continue to bring awareness to what women go through during cancer treatment, but after cancer treatment, as well. So I can't wait to get started. I'm going to introduce to you now the wonderful Scott Campbell. Oh, thank you, I really appreciate the opportunity. It's it's awesome to have this opportunity. I'm excited to talk to you. Great. I'm gonna hand it over to you. And if you would just talk a little bit about you know, from the very start, what happened, what went on with your wife and what was your experience as a result.

9:05
Alright, so

9:07
yeah, my wife, Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. Stage one that happened back in 2001. We were actually on a family vacation in Ohio where I'm from Fourth of July. And she came out we were staying at a beach house there and she came out to where everyone's at sitting that she found a lump and she think she thought she had cancer. And at the time one because everyone's in denial and like no, it's it's not. It's pretty high up it was high up on the clavicle, which is not a normal sight, as well as it was painful, which is is another thing that's not that's relatively typical, right? Yeah. And it cancer does not run in her family. She doesn't drink watches and smoke

10:00
So a lot of the things that you know, would bring someone in to think that they might be or she has. No, we're like, No, it's not you'll be okay. But she just knew something was wrong. So we stay there for however many more days. When we came back, she went into all, you know, Doctor oncologist. And first one said, no, no, it's not cancer, it just looks like a tumor. It's It's nothing, you know, non cancerous notes. Don't worry about it. She still felt something was wrong. So she went and got a second opinion. Same thing, you know, I, you know, it doesn't look like it's anything

10:37
in and then a third time still? Well, it's not cancer, but she just kept pushing which God love her. She does.

10:46
And thankfully she did. So we went in on Wednesday, they went did the surgery, and came out and told us both in

10:57
the was cancer, but at that time, they couldn't tell if it was what kind of cancer it was. Because again, just how high it was the way it works, and everything. So at that point,

11:09
we were actually hoping that was rescued. Because then we do. Sure, no, it wasn't throughout the whole lot. Right? Yeah. So in the first two doctors, the ones that said that they didn't think she should be concerned, did they not do any imaging on that area? They did not. They just, they didn't see a need for it. Because, you know, fiddling around and looking at it again, where it was going her history and whatnot, they were just like, you know, it's, it's not.

11:37
And so again, she just kept pursuing. And actually, the second one that she had, once you get back to this very persuasive.

11:46
He then, you know, did the surgery and, you know, again, came back then it was cancer. Two days later, I believe it was, we found out that it wasn't the stage one breast cancer. So we were, again, as grateful to hear that it was cancer, as it should be knowing that it was stage one and breast wasn't?

12:07
No.

12:10
At that time, the recommendation for her was to at six weeks of radiation.

12:16
So when she found that out, I just told her like, hey, no, I really don't know how to handle this.

12:23
Either. Once did, we have three kids, I own my own business. And she's a speech therapist. And

12:30
so I just said, I'm gonna start working, I'm going to work. And so unbeknownst to her, I decided to reach out and get a certification in both breast cancer. Because I knew she was going to beat it, it's able to educate myself and her to make sure while she was going through whatever treatment, because at that time, we didn't know that I would be able to help culture as much as I could. And then once she was done with treatment, be able to get her back to her normal self. So yeah, so I got certified. And I also knowing that it impacted us, but we're fortunate enough to have a great community in

13:14
careers that allow us to have insurance and have some financial stability. We, I decided to put together busting butts to save for us, which is a 5k run slash we have stations and people want to do a walk in camp. We do raffle items. So everything so we did that to be able to donate give back to all these amazing foundations and charities that help with with restaurants. That's awesome. So did you start the busting beds to save breasts after the first diagnosis? Or after the second? And how much time was there between those two? Yeah, so I started after

14:00
the first the first. So she was diagnosed. Again, she found it July 4, diagnosis in July

14:07
1 event was in October. It was the day after her last radiation treatment.

14:14
So it was pretty awesome to see her cross the finish line, you know, in more ways than one. That's great. So that was just the community came out that first event we had about 50 people and we were able to raise about $3,000. Again, that was me putting it on myself, you know, within a matter of months. That's awesome. Thank you. It's great to see not only just how much you could accomplish, but how much support from the community in such a short period of time. That's really cool. Yeah, and that's one of the things you know, for people to realize, right. You know, hopefully you're a part of a community and oftentimes we're a part of a bigger community than you realize.

14:58
Into It's okay.

15:00
reach out and ask for help.

15:02
You know, so

15:04
I was grateful for that. And again, to raise awareness for other individuals as well, too. Right, that was the first time. And then we, this will be our seventh year of putting on the events. Great. But then a couple years after, I want to say, three years, I don't recall correctly, but also was diagnosed with breast cancer again,

15:26
this time is actually state zero. So she found it so early.

15:32
You know, that it, it wasn't actually deemed cancer, but it was, it was cancer cells. She found it early enough. And at that time,

15:42
we decided she decided, you know, to have a double mastectomy, to remove, you know, all the breast tissue, well, you know, as much of it as they can, they can never say 100%. Right, right. But she decided to have a double mastectomy at that time. So to hopefully one night get it back, but to know, for breast cancer survivors, they will know much more than I unfortunately, but oftentimes, in any little find, your mind goes right to there. Yeah. And so, you know, we didn't want her to worry. As much we wanted to worry as little as possible, because like stress causes inflammation and resistance down. And that's when you know, it's gonna fly. So she had a double mastectomy. And she's a thin woman.

16:33
So they had to do expanders.

16:37
So, you know, and for those that don't know why expanders are word, a wormhole going every week or every other week are dependent. And they basically use large meals to fill up the implants

16:51
to expand the skin, and then they eventually take those out the actual Right, right. Now, did she find it the second time Scott through imaging? Or did she discover it herself? She discovered it herself. Okay. So it was already a lump.

17:09
It was already Yep. Okay. That's why it's so important for women to have mammograms on a regular basis and to pay attention to your body.

17:22
And being healthy, you know, helps being healthy and in tune with your body and knowing when something's wrong. And being

17:31
in a healthy body fat percentage and healthy weight, you know, makes it all the more easier to realize when something's not right. If you feel tired and rundown all the time anyway.

17:44
It's hard to know when something might be

17:48
used to feel good.

17:51
I think that is such an important point that you make, because I know when I was diagnosed, that's when I started looking into it. I hadn't yet felt alone, but I knew something was wrong. Because I couldn't get through the workouts the same way I did, I didn't I kept getting sick, cold after cold, like I can tell something is not right in the way that I'm feeling. And so I was pursuing, you know, going to a doctor getting blood tests. And you know, something is not right here. But I think the point you make a super important because both you and I as personal trainers know you'll get somebody in maybe even a young person doesn't mean just an older person who doesn't exercise or isn't used to it. But when you're not used to being physically fit, you often are so disconnected from your body, that even when you cue someone and might say, you know, tighten your abs, or you try to get them into a plank position. They're just so unaware of their body that they oftentimes have a hard time knowing where to tighten, you know, how to talk, how to move forward different things, different attributes of, you know, just getting their body in alignment. So, I think that's a really important point that when you're not in touch with your body enough that you can even be aware of what parts are where and how you activate different parts of your body. It's very different difficult to cue and on signals when something isn't right. So, you know, aside from people think of personal trainers as those people like, you know, if you want to lose weight, or you want to get into a competition or whatever, whatever they might consider, it is really all about being healthy and being healthy. Can't happen without being tuned into your body. Wouldn't you agree? No, definitely. I mean, I think people need to be mindful in anything like mindful of how they treat people mindful of how they spend money and mindful of what they eat, mindful, exercise and rest, you know, and we're oblivious to it and you're not paying attention. You know, then

19:47
things are gonna happen and you're gonna wonder why. Yeah, so it's not that someone asked to workout two hours a day, just chicken and asparagus, or anything like that. It's whatever is

20:00
Come on healthy for that person. Right? No, it is important. Plus, you know, if you're healthy, and you're eating a balanced diet, and you're not eating a lot of refined foods, which are fake sugar, fried foods, training, a lot of alcohol, things like that, you know, that's all those things cause inflammation, sees deeds are one of those feeds off of inflammation. So the better you can do an exercise and helps reduce inflammation, meditation and yoga does, you know all of those things that the more people do, and again, it's not like we're trying to sell people on, hire me, or you as a trainer, you know, it's just, you know, there's so many resources out there that they can use and just go for a walk,

20:48
or do something to be

20:51
active. And well, maybe instead of drinking sodas every day, try and replace that with some water, or puts a foot in the water instead of eating chips, you know, when you have some vegetables, or some popcorn, and a little less of the chips. So it's just these small little changes can have a huge impact long term, that is so true. And it's really true. So I'm gonna go back a little because I want to touch on some more things that you were inspired to do with, and I want to talk a little more about busting butts to save breasts. But you also wrote a book. And so tell me about that. Was that after the first or second diagnosis? And what what drove you to write the book? And what can people expect to find in it? To help them? Yeah, so I started writing after the first time, but completed it after the second. And again, what it is, is, it's a fifth guide to PostgreSQL. Recovering, because, you know, it's not just about recovery, it's about being fit afterwards. So God forbid, it does come back, if you're fit, you can find it that much better. And, you know, if you're fit, you reduce the chances of it coming back. Right. So that's the purpose of it is to provide workouts for women that they can do, whether they go to a trainer and go to a gym, or at home, you know, so whatever their budget is that you have wherever, you know, and for, and nutrition ideas, it's not just about no foods that maybe you should avoid, but there's also certain foods that would help with your immune system. Blueberries for antioxidants, you know, our grades, you know, if you're low in iron, you might need to have sardines or small really tend to like greater gain some potassium, you know, white potatoes, strawberries, bananas, spinach. So you know, it's, it's all these foods that, you know, one can eat. So to help build their immune system, as well as certain foods, like we already mentioned, that they should maybe eliminate or avoid, right. And then there's workouts that are specific to a woman who has had a double the second one, not just to double the second one, but breast cancer, because even if a woman doesn't have a double mastectomy, or the second, oftentimes that area, you know, she may not love it.

23:20
And so she may walk a little differently slouched over, and that could just even be if she had a lumpectomy, tightness, you know, so the exercises in there are specific, they help with postural changes that can occur without tearing or stressing the pectoral muscles, which may be impacted due to whatever procedure she may have had. So, and it's, you know, it's scalable. So for a woman was, you know, never exercised, you know, she may need a little more help and may have to go to a coach just because you may not know all the exercises, even though there are pictures.

24:02
And then it's also scalable to a woman like my son, my wife, and like yourself, or fits this set you back a little bit, and you know, you're tired afterwards. And the thing is, is that you have to be mindfully can't just because the treatment is over, you can't just jump right back into it again. It's like, I'm also certified pre postnatal. So a woman after she gives birth, you know, she definitely doesn't have to worry about the same thing she did while she was pregnant.

24:32
But that means that she was pregnant for nine months. She can't just jump right back into what she was doing prior to that. So you have to progressively get stronger, get more stable, get more fit, so then you can go ahead and be at the level you want. Right? And that again, is such a good point that you make because I know especially for you know when people before and after they give birth to a child and before it after they experienced breast cancer.

25:00
Oftentimes, I'll hear that frustration of I used to be able to do this, but I want to do what I used to be able to do. And either I see kind of these two schools where women are afraid to exercise because they're afraid to injure any area where they may have had surgery.

25:17
Or they get frustrated, because they're saying, I used to be able to do this. And now I can't do this, you know? And what do you think in your exposure, because obviously, you work with post breast cancer clients. Now, and we'll talk about that, because you have a great online program where you can work with anyone, because I'm sure people are listening to all the information you have and thinking, I wish I lived in Chandler, Arizona, and I could work with him. So but they can anyway. But what do you find?

25:48
Are some of maybe the most common challenges or obstacles that you help women through when they come to you for post breast cancer programs? And, and what are their thoughts and approaches? No, it's a great question, man. I know, it obviously varies based on the on the person.

26:06
But but you know, for a lot of women, again, you know, they walk through this traumatic events, we will, and, you know, it changes them forever. You know, you're a survivor, always.

26:22
So, and that's awesome to celebrate that and appreciate that. And instead of, you know,

26:30
in a sense, feeling sorry for yourself. Again, it's easy for me to say who hasn't had it. But being the spouse one, right, you know, you can either live that, that's who you are, and let it define you. Or you can say, that's just another thing that came in your life and you kicked it's but now you're going forward. Alright, so the reality is, though, if you had a double mastectomy, there, your breasts aren't gonna look the same.

26:56
The reality is, is sometimes based on whatever treatment you had, you know, your weight might not be able to get up or get down like it used to, your hair may look different. Those are harsh realities. I don't know what that that would feel. However, just like anything in life, we sit there and focus only on the negative, we're going to keep getting more of it. So what I tried to help women with is not even just so much the squats and deadlifts and

27:30
your fruits and vegetables, it's the personal development as well to, you know, to again, appreciate what you overcome, and what you have to look forward to. So, so that's what I really try and encourage these women and stop living in the past. Because the reality is,

27:50
you know, I'm gonna be 42 years, I can't do the things I used to be when I was in my 20s.

27:56
You know?

27:58
That being said, you know, I can do a lot of other things that I couldn't do that, right, you know, so you don't have to just succumb to right, I

28:09
guess it's overload now. How many years I have not exercised,

28:16
you might not be able to do pull ups, again, because of the poll, you might not be able to do chest presses, you might have to go down in weight, whatever it may be. But, you know, we need to again, realize how strong we truly are and how much you lift.

28:33
A test of your strength, what you overcome in life is a testament. So that's really good point.

28:41
It is. And that's what I tried to reiterate to the survivors, and that's awesome. And that's what I loved and working. I mean, we've I've said, I think in the intro here that I did work with you. And and really just immediately I loved that, that it wasn't just about here's your sets, and here's your reps, but I think you're very intuitive and have that ability to pick up on okay, what's going on in your head today? You know, why are you Where are you at with this? And why are you making the choices you make. And I think that, especially when you're dealing with a female client, that is such a valuable skill set that you have, that you're really able to tune in on, you know, this person, which I'm sure you dealt with, obviously, you've dealt with intimately with your wife what she experienced, not just from a physical point, but from her emotional status from her self image and all that kind of stuff. So it's great that you wrap that all into your programs, because that's just not something you find everywhere. I think that a lot of trainers. First of all, a lot of trainers don't have an understanding of how breast cancer or surgeries and that type of thing changes the body, you know, the firsthand the way that you do the way that I do. And I think that that's just so valuable to have for someone who's looking who is looking for recovery and

30:00
Looking for support, to have somebody that really has an understanding of how challenging this might be, because your body has kind of been put back together a little bit differently. So

30:11
that's where, you know, to your point earlier, like, it doesn't matter, if instinct with you local online. You know, if you're in Chandler, then it's great, because then you know, we have to see Scott, you know, Friday at 2pm. And I'm not going to miss my appointment.

30:29
But you know, what we're doing online, and we have weekly check ins and even daily, you can send messages.

30:36
It's more the accountability. And again, the personal development in the program from the follow because even if you have a trainer, again, take away, of course, breast cancer, just a trainer in general, you know, even if you saw him or her

30:51
five days a week, which is going to be rather expensive.

30:55
That's only 45 minutes, an hour, or however long you're going, you know, out of the entire week, still, all those other hours, that you're left to your own device. So having an online coach, as long as you know, he or she specializes in what it is you need. And there's a connection there. It really doesn't really doesn't matter. No, because we want to make sure again, it's the it's the coaching that you get, in addition to just again, give me three more reps. You know, it's the

31:32
nutrition and the personal development that goes along with that. Absolutely. And by the way, speaking of nutrition, I think sardines get a bad rap. You know, they really pretty much just tastes like tuna, throw them in the salad.

31:45
But no, those are really good points. And so I think too, what would you say about women who might think well, that all sounds great, and I would love to do it, but I don't have access to a gym and weights and things like that, what are some options, I know you and I've talked about before, for women who can use their body weight or other forms of exercise, rather than needing a set of dumbbells or a barbell.

32:09
That's a great point. And, you know, that's what I tried to put in the book too, is, you know, some options for women, you know, that they can do wherever they're at.

32:21
Again, this is your, your mind expert teams. So we know that a little more, but you know, I would strongly encourage a woman, you know, to put the money aside, to do even a one on one in a one time session with someone, you know, that that could be anywhere from, you know, 50 to $100, you know, which I understand, you know, can be costly, but that one time, you know, that coach can give you a ton of movements that you can do that can last you a long time, I mean, again, just overcome for us,

32:57
you know, I would know invest a little bit into your health going forward. And, and spend that money on someone that can help coach you, and can give you that so you're not just trying to follow, you know, the latest fad workout, which might not be specific to your needs. Exactly. And even that, you know, there's, there's typically a cost involved, as well, too. So you know, I would just do your homework, you know, find a coach, you know, that is certified in most breast cancer, or even if not, that, then at least has dealt with individuals with limitations. So you know, you're getting someone that you know, was going to be patient, willing to not just give you a cookie cutter workout, but it's going to give you a workout specific to that can provide some nutritional guidance, at least help you with foods, again, that you should avoid and things that you should eat. Because nutrition is going to be played a huge part. But you know, those are the things I look for when we're trying to find that coach to help you underwrote.

34:07
That's great. And I think you know, you mentioned that how tenacious your wife is and how she felt something wasn't right. And she kept after it right until she felt good about the result. And I know that working as a breast cancer mentor, that's something that I've talked about on the podcast before and that I talk with women about all the time is being your own advocate in that medical setting, and not settling for something that doesn't feel right to you. And I think that that carries over as well. When you're looking to get healthy again, get strong again, get a range of motion back again, maybe after surgery, that when you're going to a trainer, like you said you're looking for somebody that has an understanding of physical limitations. But what would you say to somebody who, you know, if you don't feel right about something, if a trainer is telling you hey, I want you to do you know 15 burpees and

35:00
Uh, you know, you can do those push ups just do Him on your knees. I mean, you have to speak up for yourself, right? Oh, definitely. I mean, you know, your voice is your voice and you have to use it. So again, take breast cancer out of it,

35:15
you know, anything out of it is, if someone's not providing you with what he or she is supposed to, you know, you have to let them know, if you're working out and something you feel a pole or strain, or, God forbid, a tear or whatever, it just doesn't feel right. You know, I'm sure that coach, you know, has the best of intentions. But even when me you know, like, I don't know what it's like to have that happen. So I know what exercises we should avoid. I know certain exercises that we shouldn't be able to do. But everyone is different. So you may not be able to do the same movements as these four other ones were breast cancer survivors can do. So you need a coach that is willing to listen and say like, Okay, you can't do a regular pushup. Why not? Right? And the coach should ask, right? Because, again, you've gone through lots of some of them might just be in your head.

36:11
While afraid, okay, well, let's talk about that. Why are you afraid?

36:16
You know, and then I'm afraid because anytime I try it, I feel a string. Okay, then let's, I'm afraid because I read somewhere like, you should never do a push up again. Okay, for God forbid you fell on the ground? How are you going to get? I mean, that's, that's just so true. I live as I'm funny, but in one sense, it is because, you know, the mechanics, the biomechanics, and how we use our bodies every day. And you will hear people say something that's just so silly about, Oh, you shouldn't move like that. And you're thinking, well, you move like that, when you walk upstairs, you know, or you're right, like you move like that when you lift yourself up, or push something or that type of thing. So I love that about you, as well as that, even though you are very empathetic, and you have a very open mind and listening to people. You also tell it like it is right. And I think that's important when you're working with especially someone recovering? No, thank you.

37:11
That's the thing, you know,

37:13
you're a survivor, not a bit.

37:16
So, again, I realized,

37:20
it's easier for me to say that I am neither of those. But you know, in life, if you keep living

37:29
the role of a victim, you're going to always be one. So you know, but that means that you shouldn't try and be a hero. So if you're doing something, and it hurts, feels awkward, whatnot, let the coach know, and then probably don't do it.

37:46
You know, and that's okay. If it's difficult, you know, what

37:50
you can do can overcome, doing, you know, whatever movement may be, and that's the thing to again, is people don't realize like your pecs, one of the main functions is to put your arms across your body. So if you just got done with double mastectomy is radiation, chemo, and there's tightness, you want to kettlebells for instance, not one of the best things because it's already important that chest doing deadlifts, you might have really strong hamstrings, and low back and glutes. So you might be illegal deadlift.

38:24
But that's doing around pulling out on your chest.

38:28
So you might have to go a little wider in those particular movements, not so much because other muscles work the way aging you carry on you. That was impacted through again, your retreat. Very true for diagnosis.

38:47
Right, right. And also getting that understanding that it will feel weird, it doesn't feel the same after if you have especially if you've had surgery. And so I know that it can be a little weird for me when I even started getting back to exercising. It was like, Ooh, you know, that's a really strange feeling because there's cording or tightness, but it's not necessarily a feeling that needs to be worrisome. It's just different than what it used to feel like before. You know, and something that can be worked with.

39:18
Yeah, super important. So I'm gonna talk more about you're busting butts to save breasts. And you said you started now this is will this be your seventh year this October? Yes, it will be October 2019.

39:32
It'll, it'll be at my studio in Chandler, Arizona, and it will start there and there so this will be our seventh year of being human. The first year we had again about 50 people we were able to give the charity about $3,000. Last year we had approximately 250 We will get back close to 10,000. That is amazing as so awesome. And what charity are you working for this year? So

40:00
So much like last year, and this year, we're actually giving it to the Johnson Cancer Center foundation. So they're based out of UCLA, the doctor there, was working closely with a good friend of ours who actually, unfortunately, lost her battle to cancer last year.

40:19
Left, thank you, and

40:22
has left her husband and two amazing daughters around the ages of my two youngest, so she was a dear friend of our families. So knowing how much she loved this doctor, and the great work they're doing other genes are Johnson Cancer Center Foundation, we want we wanted to give to them, because we know that they use, I believe it's about 80%. And it might even be more so what of that money for the actual research, you know, the rest goes to the Miscellaneous, but I mean, so it's, it's going to an actual good cause. Not that any of them are necessarily good or bad.

41:06
But we know that the money we're giving is going to where they say it's going to go. Great. So that's what makes it great for us, I don't have my own 501 C three, and someday, maybe I'll do that. But you know, that's just something else that takes away takes time. So I would rather give it to a foundation that we trust has been around. So we give it to them. And right now we already have on, we can take on more sponsors, for sure. But with the sponsors we have, we've already raised enough to be able to cover the cost of the company coming out and setting up, you know, the start and finish line and we have raised some chips. So it's a legitimate 5k We already have enough money to cover the T shirts, miscellaneous, as we have food donated. So right now any money that anyone donates 100% of it will be going to the charity, that's myself and my coaches, we run the events are free. So it's awesome money gets paid to us in any way other than to cover expenses.

42:15
Now we've been able to do and that's, that's great. And yours isn't just a normal 5k Like people don't just get out there and walk it or run it, you actually add in a little extra touch, right? We do. So we do, people can just walk it or run it.

42:32
Because that's what they like. So some people come and they're all about wanting to buy paper to get their FaceTime. So we have that some individuals you know, are fit enough to run.

42:43
And don't just want to be a part of the great cause so they can walk in with strollers, we don't really like dogs coming out with this because it gets kind of messy.

42:52
But what you know, and then for those people that are maybe a little more fit and want a little more of a push, we'll have 10 stations because it's the 10th month, you'll do 29 reps at each station since it's on the 29th. And those exercises will be anything from burpees to squat. Johnston wants jobs to lunges. So you would do those at each station if you choose to do the station's. That's great. That sounds like fun. And so I'll put on the website of course where people that can go to to sign up. But people can still sign up right. And people can still sponsor as you said, but if they live around Chandler and they hear this podcast, they can get out there and sign up and show what the very day, the very day.

43:40
The sooner the better because

43:43
we ordered shirts, and I tried to stick to as close to the amount of people that registered and we ordered extra because every order every shirt I order

43:54
that's not being used as less money for the charity.

43:58
So, so we bought, I know the women obtained some NF T's. They're ones that you know, we've had before and people seem to like them. So our goal too is to have hurts that people actually wear, you know, some races again, it's great when you go going to get this cotton t shirt that's four times too big. And you're never going to wear it or you're going to wear it to bed.

44:21
But then no one's seen

44:24
you know that constant reminder exposure. So we try to capture

44:30
excuse me, that you know people will want to wear when they go to the gym, go to the grocery store, do things like that. So it continues to raise that awareness. So it's not just a one and done. You know, it's great that October is breast cancer awareness.

44:45
But you know, breast cancer, unfortunately is impacting you know, 1000s of people daily. So the more we can raise awareness on a continuous, continuous basis, the better. That's so great. And what about if there's another studio

45:00
You're a breast cancer survivor listening that goes to studio somewhere in I don't know, in Utah, and they say, I want to do something like that. Are you open to kind of helping people out with that blueprint and expanding the busting butts to save breasts?

45:15
Oh, for sure, I'd love to. Yeah, you know, it's, I would love to have it in multiple states. And we'll be able to let individuals know what we do, who we use for the timing. And it'd be great to have, you know, in

45:29
the Utah and Arizona, all states, across the lowland all of us on the same day or start starting around the same time, you know, would be amazing to do. I just for me, next year, I'll hire someone that helped me. But I have some amazing coaches at my facility interns, and they helped me but again, we have a full time careers and families. And so our career is not

45:56
an event planner, man or race. So next year, I'm looking to maybe hire one. And the reason I haven't in the past is because again, I hire one, that's less money to charity. Right? Exactly. However, that coordinator now,

46:13
bringing in twice as much, right, right, even if I'm paying him or her a salary, that's still, you know, gonna be able to bring that much more to the chair. That's awesome. So I hope if you live in Arizona, and you hear this, you get out and join, and if you feel like taking a trip to Arizona, take a trip. Have fun on October 29. But so talk to me about, you know, I've both been a loved one of someone who have cancer, and I obviously have had cancer. And I have said before, you know, it seemed to me, it was easier when I was the one who had cancer because I knew it was me, you know, I knew what I could take, I knew what I could tolerate. And yet, when I was the loved one of someone who had cancer, it was very difficult because I felt so helpless. And it was very difficult to be the one standing by watching this happen. How do you think doing all of this, you know, writing the book, and, you know, starting this foundation and starting this 5k and starting these programs where you reach out and you're of service, I mean, you're helping these women recover, when you're just really involved in this whole recovery and breast cancer movement? How has that helped you? As the spouse of a survivor? Like, how did that help you to deal with everything that Melissa was going through?

47:35
It's a great question.

47:38
I mean, at first, it was more of a deflection,

47:41
you know, to not deal with it.

47:44
But you know, later on, what it's done for us is, you know, we know, give hope to individuals that aren't. So for me, you know, we have a strong faith in God, and in one another, and that's what helped us more than any. And so, you know, we, me being the spouse of someone that had it. Yeah, I mean, it's difficult. Because we have three kids, and they're scared, they don't really want to go to her, because she's fighting and they see how tired she was also, the one talking to them, and here's the reality of what's going on, what's going to happen, and it definitely isn't

48:30
for everyone,

48:32
and, you know, no one would wish to be in anyone's shoes. But again, at that time, I either what, I'm a big dump, or I choose to be happy, and you know, go out and help other people. So, for me, there's no choice now as we sit around feel sorry for family. I was gonna say,

48:53
God had this happen to us, you know, and again, none of this hurt, but our family so what can we do to help inspire people? And so for me, that's, that's how I've been able to get to be stronger in our marriage, be stronger, our family, stronger community, be stronger, have amazing opportunities to meet people such as yourself, and you know, all those things. Had we not gone through what we've gone through, we wouldn't have been able to be where we are. That's so true. So you shared a story with me that I love and I'd like you to share again it and talking about how you know it impacted your whole family how it even changed your kids and you saw made them stronger when Melissa recently had an injury. Oh, yeah, so

49:44
yeah, Ash Wednesday of this year, my wife was on my Longboard skateboard. And we're all out on a walk in the sun gotten her eyes so she looked at her arm up the block the sun.

49:55
And in doing so, she lost her balance and fell and broke both of her arms. Oh my gosh.

50:00
I'm basically shattered or left and broken right arm almost as bad. So, at that time, you know, Franek, we had to call it an ambulance, they had a car or truck at the hospital,

50:15
surgery, rehab, all this stuff. And when we asked our kids, because we're like, did you see it? And thankfully, she had a jacket. So they didn't see her arms.

50:27
But they're like, when the when they got there, cut the sweet kids away. And so they didn't see it. But we're like, Were you afraid? And my two youngest were with us at the time, my daughter who is now 13, and my son, who is 10. And when we asked him, you know, what, are you scared? They said, Well, no, not really. Because we, we knew it wasn't released. We know it wasn't cancer, and she wasn't going to die.

50:53
Out of the mouths of babes.

50:56
And that's something my wife and I use. Now, when faced with adversity, whether, oh, here's a bill, here's a sickness or here's open arms or truck breaks down or whatever it is. Yeah, you know, we're able to say, Go, he says, yeah.

51:13
And we say it in a way that no one ever have to say. And we don't say it in a way that will, your problems are nothing. But you know, everyone has their cost of like, what, but it's done for us is it's put things a little more into perspective. This actually what it happened. I don't think I told you this. The first time she got it done, again, was on a Wednesday.

51:39
That weekend, I had 30 People 30 clients competing in a bodybuilding show.

51:46
So I asked my wife do you want me to go or not? She said, go ahead and go. Well, that third day I was at work, I got a call. You got to come home. We have to take Alex who's our daughter to the hospital. Because she was in a pool and a toy got

52:02
flown in the air and cut underneath her. Oh, so we had to take our daughter to the hospital. So wife, cancer, Wednesday, Thursday, take her daughter to the hospital. They had to put her on or do surgery.

52:16
Friday, Saturday had 30 people competing in opposition. Sunday, a client of mine had given me a treadmill. And a buddy of mine went and picked it up and we're driving down the road in my six week old pickup truck. And a wind bursting in Arizona. Small tornado type thing right?

52:36
Picked up the treadmill out of the back of my truck. Oh my god flipped it in the tailgate of my truck. dented my trucks smashed the treadmill. Oh, no.

52:49
No cars were behind us. Grabbed the treadmill and had to throw away. Oh, no. That was a rough week. There's a couple $1,000 And it's a brand new truck and

53:03
but at the end of it, that still wasn't painted. Right? Had the things happen in a different order? Right. It would have been like, oh my gosh, why is this happening in my truck? Trend off materialistic things?

53:18
You know, but since it happened in that order, you know, it helped me to realize like, Yeah, I mean, it's dumb. I don't have that kind of money. I don't know, many people do just be like, Oh,

53:30
but again, at the end of the day, comparatively speaking, I would take a debit truck and a broken treadmill over breast cancer or my daughter having surgery. You know, any day? Yeah. 10 out of 10 times. Yeah. It just helps you put things into perspective. Right? Right. Totally helps you put in perspective and appreciate the smaller things in life, you know, know what really matters?

53:56
Yeah, I love that. So if people want to look you up and get a hold of you, Scott, which I will put your contact information and in fact it is on the website right now.

54:07
When you're open taking new clients at this point, working with people, what advice would you have for them? Best way to get a hold of you? Yeah, so great. So yes, I am taking clients and I have a team with me as well too. So depending on if the person's in Arizona or not, but I'm the point of contact. So you know, someone's not just going to you know, get a voicemail or send off to a coach that does not know how to work with someone close to us.

54:38
But people can either find me on Facebook, through my name Scott Campbell, through the company's name Scott's training systems, they can go to Scott couple.com Scott's training systems.com They both go to the same place. They can go to busting butts to stay abreast.com and get some information there. Or they can email me at Scott at

55:00
Got a couple.com. So try to make it as I'm on Instagram, Twitter,

55:05
all those things. So I'm here to here to serve lots of ways to get a hold of you.

55:12
Great, for sure. Well, thank you so much for making the time to be here today. I really, really appreciate it. And then thank you for all the great work you do. It's just it's so great to come across somebody who has just such an amazing outlook as you do. And you know that your whole family just supports this energy of of hope and encouragement. And it's awesome. It's inspirational. Nice to see. Thank you very much, of course, thank you. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. I am so honored to have had the opportunity to interview Scott here on this show. And one thing that just really stands out to me is how he talked about the reason even though we'll never know the reason why each of us gets cancer, that he felt that it happened in his family so that he and his wife could give back in the way that they're doing now. And that is just such an impressive approach and attitude to have towards life. So check out his website at Scott couple.com scottkepel.com or find him on Facebook. And I'll also post contact information for his fundraiser busting butts to save breasts on the website, where on my podcast page so you can contact him through any of the links there as well. You can also find my website Laura lummer.com where you can download my free ebook six habits of healthy happy breast cancer survivors. I really appreciate you tuning in downloading the show and if you get something out of this show, please take a minute go to the iTunes Store and leave some positive feedback or leave a rating for the show so that it can help move up in the rankings and other breast cancer survivors can find it more easily as well. Thanks again for listening and I'll talk to you

57:03
your mind is clearer than before your heart is full monty more your futures

57:14
Give it all you

57:16
know

57:19
you've been waiting on yours

57:26
this is your