After years of dealing with cancer, my body was weak and my every thought was cancer. Exercise changed everything

Edel Mahon signed up for personal trainer Stephen Spollen’s services in the hope of improving her mindset after a long ordeal with cancer, involving three diagnoses. She describes how Spollen’s approach has paid dividends both mentally and physically

Edel Mahon (right) and Personal Trainer Stephen Spollen (left). Photo: Thomas O'Hanlon

Saoirse Hanley

When Edel Mahon signed up for Offaly-based Stephen Spollen’s personal training services, she had no idea that she would be reshaping how he approached his work. She had had three cancer diagnoses and numerous bouts of chemotherapy, as well as multiple surgeries.

When she saw Spollen advertising his one remaining PT spot on Instagram, she took the leap. “I was starting to lose movement and power in my left arm where I had had my surgery in my left breast. So I said I’d better start doing something now. I got in touch with Stephen, and I went down, and luckily enough I was in my gym gear, because he said, “hop up there on the treadmill and the cross trainer and all the rest, and we’ll see what your ability is”,” she says with a laugh.