Bodybuilding Lifestyle Helps Mother Defeat Cancer After She Was “Terrified” of Not Being Able to Watch Her Son Grow Up

Life can hit the deep bottom at any point in time. A 40-year-old natural bodybuilder from Texas, Annamarya Scaccia, had a similar experience in September 2020. Her whole life fell apart when she went for a regular health checkup and a few months later ended up getting diagnosed with kidney cancer. The former kickboxer and even her doctors were shocked when they evaluated that she has been carrying the tumor for the last five years.

It was a bigger shocker as she had not been diagnosed with any major health issues. However, at the same time, the accidental check-up was also a blessing in disguise as they discovered cancerous cells in time.

Fighting and conquering kidney cancer

Cancer is a fatal disease. It is difficult to live and outgrow it. Moreover, it is similarly difficult to get back the strength to life after defeating it. However, the bodybuilding enthusiast has done it all. Before she was diagnosed with kidney cancer, Scaccia used to be a kickboxer who was preparing to compete in Muay Thai Fights. Even though not for bodybuilding, she used to be tremendously physically active as she pursued martial arts. Scaccia used to spend two hours regularly in the gym.

And because of all this healthy activity, she never felt anything wrong with her body. Therefore, she didn’t even feel the presence of a life-threatening tumor for five long years. As reported by The U.S. Sun, Scaccia said, “I was terrified because I didn’t know if my worst fear would come true–that I wouldn’t be able to watch my son grow up.” Her fear was genuine, and she couldn’t be more scared to go away from her kid.

However, as soon as the diagnosis was out. Her urologist suggested nephrectomy, which is the removal of a part of the kidney or a whole kidney. As the date of the surgery was closing by, she recalled, “He was frightened of losing me and clinging to me wherever we went.” After the surgery, the doctors confirmed it was stage 1 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Fortunately, the surgery happened in October and was successful. Moreover, she didn’t need any further treatment. Although they didn’t know the type of cancer she had. Post-surgery, Annamarya had a six-month rest. However, after that, it was a whole other ride. Here’s what happened next.

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The kickboxer aspirant transformed into a bodybuilder

After the surgery, it was certain that she couldn’t continue as a kickboxer. At least, she couldn’t compete in it because if she got a blow on her kidney there won’t be many options left for her. However, she was adamant about being strong. And as she completed her six-month rest, she gradually began to work out. She revealed, “I eased back into working out, starting slowly with walks.” Further, she took “Boot camp classes with bodyweight exercises and resistance bands, and began lifting weights in April 2021.”

Scaccia turned to bodybuilding. and now she spends three hours in the gym six days a week. However, she competed in her first competition after nine months of rigorous hard work in November 2021. From there, it has only been forward and upward.

Now, after proving her strength and capability, she hasn’t lost the battle with cancer and is as strong as ever. She is not just a bodybuilder but also works as an ambassador for the Kidney Cancer Association and, is a certified nutritionist and fitness coach. Although currently she has been on rest after her last competition and is looking to come back in the latter half of 2024. Let us know your thoughts on this incredibly powerful inspirational story in the comments section.

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