Helios Berlin-Buch: Workouts of a patient with colon cancer
While cycling used to be primarily practical for the now 70-year-old — simply a way to get from one place to another — he fully embraced endurance cycling in retirement and regularly participated in cycling marathons. When he was no longer able to meet his training goals during his demanding training schedule last March, he initially did not think of cancer. However, the severe drop in performance and poor blood test results quickly led him from a gastroenterologist to the Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch. The diagnosis: colon cancer. “I knew: this is something I now have to live with,” he recalls. At that time, his prognosis was not good, as metastases had already been found in the liver.
Surgery at a certified cancer center in Berlin followed within a very short time. Prof. Dr. med. Roger Wahba, Chief Physician of General, Visceral and Oncological Surgery at the Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch, explains:
“A particular challenge arises when both the liver and the colon are affected. But my team here in Buch specializes in precisely these complex cases. Norbert Hell coped with this demanding operation remarkably well. Despite the urgency, everything went smoothly.”
Just one month after the operation, Norbert went on a hiking trip with his wife in the Ötztal Alps in Tyrol. He also returned to his road bike relatively quickly — he did not want to give it up.
Norbert Hell explains what really matters in the major cycling marathons he rode before his illness: “Reaching your goal according to your own abilities. In doing so, you discover your physical limits—and you can continue working on them.” After surgery, the next phase of treatment began: chemotherapy. At first, it went quite well, “but after a short time I realized that the recovery period between infusions was too short for me to fully recover physically.” He reached his limits and had to manage his energy — much like in a cycling marathon.
Despite this and various side effects, Norbert continues to cycle even during chemotherapy, although significantly less than before. Previously, he rode around 1,000 km per month; this winter, it was about 400–500 km. Although he notices that the cancer treatment reduces his strength and makes it harder to keep up with others, this is still an impressive distance. Prof. Roger Wahba is also impressed: “It is something truly special and positive that a colon cancer patient can maintain this level of activity throughout treatment.” It has been proven that physical activity is one of the factors that can reduce the likelihood of developing cancer. Even in existing cases, such as Norbert Hell’s, exercise can improve long-term outcomes.
This case also demonstrates the advantages of treatment in certified centers such as the Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch:
“We were able to operate on both the colon cancer and the liver metastases at the same time. At a stage like Norbert Hell’s, where the cancer has already spread and affected lymph nodes, patients need comprehensive care. This allows for a single surgery and a faster recovery for further treatment,”
says Prof. Wahba. Each year, more than 100 patients with colon cancer and liver conditions are treated and operated on at the clinic.
After completing his cancer treatment, Norbert will soon enter the follow-up phase, for which an individualized care plan will be developed. And then? “My goal is to ride the Ötztal Cycling Marathon again this autumn after hopefully completing my cancer treatment successfully,” says the 70-year-old. The same principle applies: manage your energy, keep going, and reach the finish. The marathon includes several Alpine passes and around 5,000 meters of elevation gain. But Norbert knows what he’s talking about — he successfully completed the Ötztal Cycling Marathon in 2023 and is very proud of it.
“It’s still a bit early to give advice to other patients,” Norbert Hell says. However, he always recommends seeking treatment in a large clinic such as the Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch: “There are specialists here who know exactly what they are doing. I feel that I have received optimal treatment.” Support from close family is also important. His wife often encourages him to go cycling when the weather is good, especially when his motivation is low. “She knows how important and beneficial it is for me,” he says with a smile. “Cycling is part of my normal life — and life can go on.” Norbert Hell is a solution-oriented person. He does not wait for everything to be over — he gets on his bike and keeps going.
Read more:
Do you need more information about Helios Hospitals or want to schedule your treatment?
