When Blair Scrudato received the news that she had breast cancer, she remembers thinking, “I can’t die.” “I’m young, I’m not even 40 yet,” she recalled.
The 36-year-old middle school counselor was already managing the estate of her dad, who passed away just three months earlier, and cleaning out his apartment. She and her husband both worked full-time. They had two young children, including a toddler.
“It was overwhelming,” she remembered.
She was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hormonal Ductal Carcinoma in January of 2023, and due to the rapid growth of her tumor, her doctor recommended beginning chemotherapy immediately. From January 2023 to March 2024, Scrudato underwent 32 rounds of chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation. A resident of Vernon, she took a leave of absence from her job to commute daily to Florham Park for her treatments.
Scrudato already knew staff member Peggy Pak from participating in group exercise classes at the Sussex County YMCA. Pak is also the LIVESTRONG@ at the YMCA Program Coordinator. Scrudato reached out to Pak to get more information about participating in LIVESTRONG, a free program that helps adult cancer survivors gradually regain their strength to continue with regular exercise. She didn’t know what to expect, but she already felt she was in good hands with Pak.
Scrudato completed the 12-week session lasting from July to September 2024, meeting twice a week with a small group of six other people. She was, in her observation, the youngest person in the group. But she never felt like an outsider. Almost every participant had also been diagnosed with breast cancer, she recalled. The group encouraged her as much as she encouraged them, she said.
She credits the LIVESTRONG program with helping her feel better physically and mentally, and more like herself, after all she had been through.
“I was getting my identity back, finally,” she remarked.
Program participants complete a screening and questionnaire before starting the program, so instructors are familiar with their background. This helps staff be able to tailor the exercises to each individual, so they can go at a pace that suits their goals and abilities. Scrudato was especially appreciative of this aspect of the program, so she knew how hard to push herself.
“It was really nice to have that guidance,” she said.
She had reconstruction surgery following a single mastectomy, and her cancer went into remission. She is grateful for how the LIVESTRONG program has enabled her to regain her strength so she can be active with her family. Her 6-year-old son is mastering the art of riding a bike without training wheels, and she is able to jog beside him.
“I’m doing much more and feeling more comfortable,” she said. “Cancer doesn’t care about age and gender and what else you’re going through. This program was valuable in helping me get strong so I can live my life and make memories. I couldn’t have done it on my own.”
To learn more about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, visit metroymcas.org or contact Peggy Pak at ppak@metroymcas.org or 973-209-9622.
There is no cost to participate in the program; it is made possible through donor support during the Annual Support Campaign and annual Sussex County YMCA Golf Outing. To make a gift, visit metroymcas.org/give or email giving@metroymcas.org.