"I'm thankful that Reh-Fit and its incredible staff were there to support me before, during, and after my cancer journey. They helped me build the strength I needed—not only physically, but mentally as well. For me, Reh-Fit truly became part of my recovery." - Walter Burdz.
For more than 25 years, Walter Burdz has been part of the Reh-Fit community. What began as a commitment to staying active became one of the most important investments he ever made in his health.
Since joining Reh-Fit in 1999, Walter has built exercise into his weekly routine. Three times a week, he combined strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and stretching. On the days he wasn't at the Centre, he stayed active by walking 10,000 to 12,000 steps, golfing, playing tennis, and enjoying slo-pitch baseball.
He never imagined that commitment would one day help save his life.
Trusting His Instincts
After retiring from the Province of Manitoba in 2021, Walter's routine medical screenings showed he was healthy. But in 2024, he began experiencing persistent pain in his left rib cage that eventually spread to his back.
Although initial assessments suggested acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome, Walter knew something wasn't right.
Rather than accepting those answers, he continued to advocate for himself and pushed for additional testing.
That persistence changed everything.
In March 2025, an upper endoscopy revealed a stomach ulcer with a cancerous tumour measuring approximately 4–5 centimetres. The tumour had begun penetrating the stomach wall, but because it was discovered when it was from a diagnostic staging perspective), doctors were able to perform surgery with curative intent.
Walter's surgeon later shared that the additional testing had likely saved his life. Without his persistence, the endoscopy would have occurred more than a year later as part of a routine screening schedule, and the cancer may have progressed beyond a curable stage.
Strong Before, Strong Through
Walter's treatment included four initial rounds of pre-op chemotherapy to shrink the tumour mass, major surgery to remove more than 60% of his stomach and 20 lymph nodes, an additional four rounds of post-op chemotherapy to reduce the risk of future cancer recurrence, and months of recovery.
Throughout it all, one message came from every member of his medical team.
His physical fitness mattered.
His oncologists, surgeon, and family physician all credited the years he spent building strength and endurance at Reh-Fit as a significant factor in his ability to tolerate treatment. Walter completed all eight chemotherapy treatments without interruption—something his care team said is uncommon.
"They told me and my wife that my fitness heading into treatment made an enormous difference in how my body handled chemotherapy and recovered from surgery."
Even during treatment, Walter never stopped moving.
Unable to lift weights because of chemotherapy and surgery, he focused on what he could do. Every day, regardless of how he felt, he walked at least 10,000 steps.
Those daily walks became part of his recovery.
Back Where He Belongs
On December 1, 2025, Walter returned to Reh-Fit.
Step by step, workout by workout, he rebuilt his strength, cardiovascular fitness, and endurance.
Now, after surgery, follow-up CT scans (both six months and one year after surgery) have shown no evidence of cancer recurrence.
A physician specializing in cancer rehabilitation described Walter's recovery as being among the best she had ever seen, placing him in the top few percent of patients for returning to such a high level of physical function.
She encouraged him to continue exercising—and to share his story with others.
A Message Worth Sharing
Looking back, Walter believes there are two lessons everyone can take from his experience.
The first is to never ignore your body.
"If something doesn't feel right, keep asking questions. Self-advocacy can save your life."
The second is to invest in your health before you ever need it.
"My doctors told me that being physically fit before my diagnosis gave me the strength to get through treatment. You never know when the healthy choices you make today will become the reason you're able to overcome tomorrow's challenges."
Living the Motto: Be Strong
Throughout his life, one personal motto has guided Walter:
Be Strong.
It carried him through athletics, retirement, cancer treatment, and recovery.
Today, every visit to Reh-Fit is a reminder of how far he's come—and how grateful he is to keep moving forward.