How Melbourne woman found fittest self after cancer battle

After the “terrible shock” of a bowel cancer diagnosis, a 64-year-old woman is fighting fit. This is how she did it.

Graham Elliss, right, with Katrina Devine. Picture: Tony Gough

After beating cancer, Katrina Devine is the fittest she has ever been.

The 64-year-old was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, and underwent major surgery and chemotherapy.

She described the experience as “a terrible shock”.

“My mother passed away from bowel cancer when she was 56 so that kept me pretty motivated to just try and do everything that the doctors asked of me,” Ms Devine said.

After finishing treatment, Ms Devine started seeing an exercise physiologist to get her confidence back.

She started attending classes with Renewed After 50 about three yeas ago.

Ms Devine, who lives in Melbourne’s Camberwell, said these included small group training and strength and conditioning.

“I’m fitter than I’ve ever been in my life,” she said.

She does a class three times a week and tries to go for a walk of at least 40 minutes on other days.

Katrina Devine. Picture: Tony Gough

“Since my cancer diagnosis, it just really increased my focus and determination so much more,” Ms Devine said.

She worked with a nutritionist during 2023 and was able to lost 10kg, which she has kept off, and said she felt her health was as strong as it could be.

Ms Devine, who has two adult children, said her exercise regimen had also helped her mental health and kept her feeling positive and connected.

She encouraged other older people to find an exercise they were comfortable with.

Graham Elliss, 76, founded Renewed After 50 after seeing the broad spectrum of fitness while working in the retirement industry as a sales manager.

“I saw people that were frail at 55 and I saw people that were still active in late 80s and early 90s,” Mr Elliss said.

Mr Elliss, who has always enjoyed sport, was in his 60s when he became a personal trainer in 2012.

Renewed After 50 began as a free walking group in 2018, which he said now had about 1300 members, before expanding to fitness classes.

Mr Elliss said his dad died aged 53 following his third heart attack.

He also discovered his own heart health issues and underwent a double bypass in 2023, but said he was back teaching classes within six weeks.

“I really do believe that if I didn’t have the attitude to health and fitness and lifestyle, I’d already be dead like my dad,” Mr Elliss said.

Renewed After 50 classes primarily involve strength training, including dumbbells, agility, mobility and cardio.

Mr Elliss’ own fitness routine involves leading classes and weekly hikes.

Associate Professor David Scott, from Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, said being active was a key predictor of health at all ages but particularly crucial in middle and older age.

“Most people are aware that being more physically active is associated with a lower risk of many types of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia, as well as greater likelihood of living longer,” he said.

“However, we often find that the priority for most people is not just living longer, but rather staying independent for as long as possible.”

Prof Scott said in mid and older age people generally lost muscle mass and strength, which contributed to declines in physical function.

“The best way to combat this is the same way that bodybuilders build muscle, via what most people call strength or weight training,” he said.

“We refer to this as ‘resistance training’ to reflect the fact that it really just requires your muscles to work against a resistant force, and it doesn’t necessarily require the use of traditional weights.

“In addition to these exercises which can increase your muscle mass and strength, we recommend including balance and mobility tasks in your resistance exercise sessions.”

Prof Scott said retirement was a great time to focus on maximising your physical fitness.

Originally published as How Melbourne woman found fittest self after cancer battle