Exercise during / after Radiation?

KeepingFaith69

Hi,

I was really active before diagnosis and exercise took a back bench whilst undergoing and recoverng from treatment.

I didnt do any exercise when I last had radiotherpy as I was too tired (getting chemo and Herceptin at the sane time).

I have just got back into the groove of training and plan to continue training for as long as I can when I get radiartion this time (25 sessions commencing 24/1/2012).

Any recommendations?

Anita333

Hi,

I kept walking during radiation (26 done 4 more to go). I made sure that I walked more than 10000 steps a day.  Didn't want to get my under the breast area moist from sweating so I didn't do any other exercises but I'll start shortly after I am done with the radiations next Thursday.

 Good luck with your treatment.

Claire_in_Seattle

I exercised all through treatment, and didn't stop during radiation.  Towards the very end, I was tired, but I got my butt out there anyway.  I did not have any worse than slightly red skin and a bit of peeling.  No burns.  I used a combination of aloe gel and Bag Balm (for cows' udders...worked just great on my own personal udder).

I did two cycling events the two weekends following radiation, but 45 and not 70 miles.

I also did my daily routine of weights/crunches plus walking when I wasn't cycling.

My radiation oncologist is a cyclist and he offered to "fix me up" with potions so I could do the cycling events, but my skin was fine.  One was fine temperature-wise, but we FROZE doing the other.  I don't remember the "radiation fatigue" that day, but I do remember being soaked to the skin.  What a misearable ride. - Claire

coraleliz

I ran almost everyday, went to the gym-weights,core,cardio.....The hard part was trying fit it in.

Wordwrangler

I have to confess I was a chemo blob. I could barely get to work and feed my animals. Half way through radiation I got back on the treadmill. I started with 5 minutes a day. I finished rads in Sept, i'm now walking a 17 minute mile, doing 2 days a week of yoga, and 3 days a week of archery(45 minutes). Physical thearapy for the right side weekness from the surgery is helping more than anything else. I can carry a bag of groceries without hurting. Please no more pills!!!

GmaFoley

I walked too during radiation but had to rest alot after because radiation to the energy out of me toward the end.

peggy_j

The nurses and docs recommended walking a half hour a day during treatment to boost my energy level (and immune system.) Near the end of rads when my energy was low, I made this a top priority and sometimes walked in the morning (when my energy was better) to make sure I got it in. I just walked in the neighborhood (a few timers I met friends) and it added a nice rhythm to this period of my life (and it helped me to get out of the house and see kids and families in the park. ) It.was so nice I still walk several times a week.

mks16

I too mostly walked. I started from level 0, near the end of my chemo and walked my way up. At my highest peak, I power walked 30 miles a week. I lost 20 pounds since June 2011 without trying too hard. I simply ate less and kept walking, although it took months for results to show.

Like Peggy, I too walk very early in the morning, as soon as I get up. That way, I always have enough energy to get my exercise in, even if by noon hour I must have a nap to go on. 

Sometime recently, I had a (silent) heart attack that I barely noticed. I am convinced that my energy level, constant exercise and weight loss helped me survive it with minimal damage, although it was of a moderate severity.