I’m one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet. Most days, anyway.
For months I spent at least 16 hours a day in bed, either sleeping or wishing I was sleeping. I was exhausted, and I wasn’t happy about it. But at least, I figured, I wasn’t wearing out shoes as fast. At least my shoes were lasting longer. That was something.
It’s possible, however, that you may experience, as I did, swelling and edema that makes it hard to squeeze into shoes that used to fit just fine. If so, you may need to buy a couple pair of shoes that fit your new feet. But don’t go wild at the shoe store; with luck, this side effect will be temporary.
You may also, however, lose some padding from the soles of your feet. That’s especially true for the fat pad under your heel. This doesn’t happen to everyone. But either way, consider shoes with plenty of cushioning.
And later, as your health improves and your feet begin returning to normal, you may decide to buy some new walking shoes—or even running shoes. Don’t be afraid to wear them out. Exercise may help prevent cancer, and the latest medical guidelines from organizations like the American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine suggest that it may also help cancer patients during their recovery—and even improve their odds of survival.
To sum all this up: cancer may not be a great way to save money on shoes. You may even decide to spend more. Because later, wearing out more walking or running shoes may quite literally help you walk away from cancer.
