Andrea Leonard is a 40-year cancer survivor, the president and founder of the Cancer Exercise Training Institute, author of 19 books and countless articles, and a globally sought after speaker on exercise oncology. Andrea has been through multiple cancer battles not only with herself, but her mother, father, grandparents and extended family. She has overcome significant personal challenges, yet she has persevered since the early 80’s as a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, with a mission to provide resources, hope, and strength to those surviving and fighting cancer. 

Andrea is wearing CROCODILE ICONIC STRETCH JEANS, SIENNA and ESSENTIAL V-NECK TOP, BLACK

In 1984 Andrea was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 18 and underwent a complete thyroidectomy leaving her with no energy and an extra 20 lbs. She suffered with her body image after her boyfriend at the time publicly humiliated her by telling her to “Lose weight or it’s over,” and those words would change her life forever. Andrea battled eating disorders for decades, nearly losing her life in the early 90s. 

Determined to take control of her mind and body, she decided to become a certified personal trainer. She acquired as many certifications as she could and became the personal training director at the national capital YMCA in Washington, DC. It was during that time that her mother was diagnosed, for the second time, with breast cancer. She asked Andrea to help her with her recovery, she had permanent nerve damage and a frozen shoulder with from previous mastectomy, and did not want to go through the same kind of suffering a second time. 

Andrea happened to be training her mother’s breast surgeon and asked her what she thought about writing a book on exercises for breast cancer survivors. Dr. Alley thought it was a great idea and desperately needed. The Internet was barely in existence, which made research quite difficult. Andrea enlisted the help of the chiefs of breast surgery at George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University medical Centers for three years they collaborated along with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and oncology nurses to write the first book of its kind – “Essential Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors,” published by Harvard Common Press in 2000.  

In 200I Andrea created a 502-c non-profit, The Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation. Her goal was to raise money to provide breast cancer patients and survivors grants to work with a personal trainer who specialized in working with cancer patients free of charge. After her father was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, she realized that there was an even greater need, and that cancer affected both men and women of all ages, socioeconomic status, and geographical locations. 

In 2004 she created the Cancer Exercise Training Institute to educate health and fitness professionals worldwide to empower cancer patients and survivors through exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle. As of 2024, Andrea has completed the 14th edition of the comprehensive Cancer Exercise Specialist Advanced Qualification manuals. They are updated every two years to reflect the most current, evidence based, and relevant information on oncology exercise. Through the Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Andrea has trained nearly 20,000 health and fitness professionals in 52 countries. Her goal has and will always be to provide cutting edge education and training in the field of exercise oncology with a personal touch. 

Every cancer patient has a unique experience. No two cancer patients are alike. Each exercise program needs to reflect that, and take into consideration the clients’ likes and dislikes, previous exercise history, nutrition, current or previous orthopedic issues, and of course, the acute and chronic side effects of cancer surgery and treatment. 

Andrea Leonard, Founder and President of the Cancer Exercise Training Institute

Andrea has seen a tremendous opportunity within medical fitness with the vast number of baby boomers, many of whom have multiple chronic health conditions. Many have comorbidities requiring specialized training and education on the part of the fitness professional to be able to safely and effectively work with these clients. The vast majority of fitness professionals have minimal education or training, and certifying bodies don’t require adequate continuing education to ensure that professionals are up-to-date on current protocol. CETI Cancer Exercise Specialists® are required to retest every two years, based on updated course content, to ensure that they are up to date on the most current, evidence-based education in the oncology arena.

Andrea now lives in Avon, Colorado and spends her time teaching online workshops in between hiking, biking, skiing, paddle and snowboarding in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Through her personal cancer battle, and her work with hundreds of cancer patients, she lives by the motto “Carpe Diem” – seize the day. 

Every day is a gift and should be spent doing the things that bring you the most joy. This includes a wardrobe that reflects your personal style and helps you to exude confidence. 

Andrea loves the many fashionable and perhaps most importantly, comfortable options that Alembika offers. Her mother introduced her to Alembika after years of difficulty finding pants that would not cause her pain in the area of her abdominal incision. She raved about Alembika’s drawstring pants and was insistent that Andrea try them on for herself. The rest is history. Andrea now owns them in several styles, her favorite being the urban Iconic jeans in charcoal. 

“They feel so amazing and I get compliments every time I wear them on the style themselves, and the way they fit me.”

Andrea Leonard, #AlembikaWomen

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