2012 Running Thread

ymac16

I'm glad to see this thread!! I ran my first half last June and then started training for the October 30 MCM. Was diagnosed in mid-September but specifically asked if we could hold off on the surgery until after the marathon, which they did. Managed to finish, though the time wasn't great, 5:42, but was so happy that I accomplished it despite the BC troubles. Had a bilateral mx 2 weeks later. Had planned to have immediate DIIEP flap reconstruction, but cancer spread to the nodes, so they put in TEs and will do reconstruction after my chemo treatments are done. The TEs are awful and when I first tried to run, they sloshed around so much it was uncomfortable, so gave up running for a while and just went for walks and to the gym to get in the elliptical. But, nothing really compares to running for me, so I bought some super supportive sports bra and finally went for a 3 mile run last week - it was so wonderful! Then, had my first chemo tx on Thursday - nurse told me no running the first week after but that I can the 2 weeks before the next treatment. So, hopefully I'll be able to get back into the game - I want to try to run a half sometime this year. Chemo should be done by end of May and I want to have the next surgery around November so planning on doing an event by Ocotober.

CLC

Thanks Eulabt for the encouragement!

Welcome, ymac!

eulabt

Welocme ymac16! Great job with the half and full. You will be back to running before you know it. Hope your Chemo is going well.

firstcall

I've been visiting with a friend who is an oncology pharmacist, and asking him questions about chemo and running.  He is also a marathon runner.  It seems that suppression of the bone marrow may be the most likely limiting factor for running.  It can result in low blood counts, and that accounts for a good part of the fatigue.  But it doesnt sound like there is any reason that one cant run during chemo if they feel up to it.  It is such a big unknown.  I read what others have experienced and have been studying the drugs....but I think it is one of those things that you really dont know until you get there, what its really going to be like for you.  I plan to cross each bridge as I come to it.....I just hope there arent too many icy rivers to ford without a bridge. I'm meeting with my MO Friday to work out details of my 'cocktail'.   

goldlining

This is not literature I'm up on, but it seems that the general expectation is that we are supposed to behave like proper invalids and therefore there isn't a lot of evidence-based guidance for people who want to run and be active. There's anecdotal stuff like Runner's World articles and such, but someone should do some well designed studies. I did not have chemo and rads as I went from DCIS to mx, but something about the lumpectomy and mastectomy drama kicked my ass and it was not just simple deconditioning. Although my resting HR and BP were perfectly normal, my exercise HR was scary high and my pace sucked. I'm just as deconditioned now, if not more, and I had a better pace (at least in the 5K) and less subjective strain than at any time in the last year. I don't have as much uncertainty and unfinished business that was probably giving me stress. I wish someone had more data on running under these conditions of surgical and medical treatments, and emotional stresses, because it might help to know what to expect. Without that, it was a lesson in "listen to my body" for sure.

ymac16

Ah goldlining, your last sentence seems to be the mantra in all of this - "listen to your body!"  That is the main piece of advice I have been given by numerous doctors and nurses when I ask about running/exercise.  So, it seems that it the only thing we have to go on throughout this process.

firstcall

I agree, listen to your body.  Today was the first day since surgery that I used the entire elliptical.  Up until now I had used the elliptical a few times, but only the leg portion.  Today I decided to try using the arm portion again.  My most recent surgery was mid January.  It felt ok.  again I think that we need to listen to our bodies.  Will be meeting with my MO this week to talk about chemo...

goldlining

Not about running, but peripherally running-related, I had to drive to a site visit meeting today, two hours there and two hours back. I woke up with no swelling and came home with the same swelling I had after the half marathon. As aggravating as that is, it is a bit of a relief. I don't think I made myself swell from running (my body said run and my PS was okay with it, but the ladies on the 2011 DIEP forum were concerned that 6 weeks was too soon to run, and that put anxious ideas in my head about whether I did in fact hurt something). I think it was just being out of bed doing anything! I have a standard transmission and the side with the two nodes out was the right arm and the swelling affects the right flap almost exclusively, so it certainly seems possible that it is lymph related. But just two nodes? That's theoretically supposed to be low risk and I did not notice any swelling in the year between mx and DIEP. I need to figure out whether it is a "problem" or just a nuisance. If just a nuisance, well, you can get used to anything.  

kks_rd

goldlining, thank you for saying so well what I've been struggling to describe.  Since my dx in April I have more or less felt like I generally suck for not continuing to be active (other than walking or yoga) during treatment.  My runs were very hit or miss and always depended on how I felt on any given day.  The doc tell me there's no reason I shouldn't be able to do what I've been doing, but I just... well, couldn't!  My blood counts were fine during chemo, I was resting as much as a young professional ever gets to... there was no explanation for why I felt like I didn't have it in me... but the truth is, I just didn't.  I still don't, and I might not for a while still.  So although I'm REALLY looking forward to being done with tx next week, it's not like I'll wake up in 7 or 10 days ready to start rocking it out.  This is important for me to remember when setting whatever goals I have for this season.  I had thought I might aim for a half sometime this year but to be honest, feeling the way I do today, I'm wondering if I'll be able to do the 5K I committed to do in May.  Truly, every day is different and I think it's wise just to embrace the good days when they happen and be kind to ones self when they don't.

Firstcall, I hope this doesn't discourage you at all.  Fact is, you sound like you have a ton of running experience where I am still very new to the sport.  I think you have a good shot at continuing to do everything you want to do.  I've heard of others running through chemo (on last year's thread, actually).  Just do what feels best!

dltnhm

Goldlining ...I love your posts. I was thinking about what you said about there not being enough evidence based information out there regarding running more anecdotal.

In a way ... it's like many other things related to cancer and other diseases for that matter. Or for that matter --- other surgical procedures and medical 'issues'. Just research back to the way that mothers had babies (knocked out - that was my mom in 1963) versus wide awake (when she had my sister in 1973). Recuperating .. flat on their backs ... to up and walking and out of the hospital. (That is women who even go to the hospital ... some choose home birth, etc.)

With my acl reconstruction in 2004 they had come such a long way ... I awoke with a cpu machine moving my leg and knee. Even at that time this was not automatic standard of care. (I wonder if it is even standard of care now or if it is dependent on having researched about it before and having a surgeon who believes that it makes all the difference.) I never had to be concerned about being afraid to move my knee because it was moving before I even knew it post-surgery and then I went home with the machine.

And so it is with running. I know that it really would be difficult to do a controlled study .. at least with chemo patients, because there are so many different chemotherapies for so many different cancers. At the same time they have found that the more active someone is pre-, during, and post- chemotherapy, the better it is for the person and his/her overall recovery. Moving ... moving ... moving is better ... It gets the heart pumping. It gets those chemicals through and out of our bodies. It helps with weight gain that so many experience. REAL studies have been done when it comes to the benefit of exercise and running for 'normal' people (lol ... whoever 'they' are) and we know that exercise and running are PLUSES ... not minuses.

So I will listen to my PS and my oncologist and keep researching and reading. I will await my PS givng me the green light to RUN. And I will listen to my body and understand that getting back to my pre-surgical pace and distance might just take a whole lot of time ... but running is possible.

I am not an invalid. I am healthy. I just have cancer ;-)

Love you gals and all we are sharing here in the community!

Good luck everyone on your goals!

Godspeed toward them one day at a time (one moment at a time)!

Diana

blackjack

Morning girls, I too love to run, I am going to run the Chicago Marathon in Oct this year. This will be my first one. I never did one before, but I am excited but scared at the same time. Any tips for training, programs to watch. I do 5 miles on the treadmill now. I did exercise during my treatment too. It was a great stress reliever for me. I have osteoporosis so I think this would help strenghtening my bones. Has any one have Zometa and still run?

Glad someone started this tread. Happy running

BJ

groovygirls

Congrats on getting into Chicago. I heard it sold out rather quickly this year.I like to use Hal Higdon's plans- free on the internet if you google it.

Good luck!

dltnhm

Yes! Congrats on Chicago. I live in Illinois but doing the Chicago one has not been on my wish/bucket list yet. Running up the tower has been. I think it's the Hancock one :-)  I've run the Honolulu marathon ... years ago ... for and with the Leukemia Society Team in Training program. I would like to do the Rock N' Roll Marathon (think it's in San Diego) and the Disney one (in Orlando) ... and return to Honolulu again some day.

This running talk has me even more itching to get out there.

diana

firstcall

I received an email from a running friend, someone who I know casually from my running club, and he told me that professionally he is an oncology pharmacist, and he will be a resource for me during my chemo.  I talked with him about running and chemo as he is a runner too.  He encouraged me to run what I can during chemo, just listen to my body.  That is what makes sense anyway.  I meet with my MO today to work out details of my upcoming treatment. 

eulabt

blackjack- Congrats on Chicago! that is so exciting. I am trying to qualify now for the ING NYC Marathon in Nov. I am running the NYC Half on March 18th. Hoping to achive a fast pace of 1:44 to qualify! Running has helped me so much in my recovery. I figure, if I can fight breast cancer, then I can run a marathon! Have agreat day ladies!

blackjack

Yes I am excited to do this run. My mo has run in the Chicago Marathon for 3 yrs now. She told me that if you put your mind to it you can do anything. So I am going to try . I would love to find a good running group in Chicago. Does anyone have any suggestions.

BJ

orangemat

Congrats blackjack! One of these years I'd love to run Chicago as well. Like you, eulabt, I'm hoping to get into NYC in the fall, but I'm not fast by any account. I put in for the lottery so I'm just waiting for the universe to answer me...  

Good luck with your MO meeting today, firstcall. Yes, listening to your body is best way to go. 

dltnhm, I just ran Disney last month, my very first marathon. I was just looking at marathonguide.com earlier to find another fall race to train for, in case NYC doesn't pan out. Thinking about Hartford, which is the week before the Avon Walk in NYC. Better to do the walk after a marathon rather than before, right?

goldlining

Hal Higdon's plans and Jeff Galloway plans on the runDisney site are really good resources for training. I like that they both have options for a first-time participant who simply has an "upright and smiling" goal. I am never going to win THE race. But I can win MY race. And there's enough medals for everyone.

My husband is from Chicago and did the Chicago marathon, plus a DNF on a first attempt. He'd like to do it again, I think. There is a fairly flat marathon in Toronto in October that even passes through my neighbourhood. I would run if I could do that half, but the half marathon course is the other half. The following week is the Niagara Falls International Marathon that goes on both sides of the border. A friend of mine did that and loved it. It is a point to point starting on the US side and ending near Table Rock on NF Ontario, the viewing area for the Canadian Falls.

It's too bad that running seems to be a secret society as far as finding a doctor goes. I wish there was a way to know ahead of time that the MD was going to support it or dismiss it. My GP is sort of dismissive, like "you just have to walk several times a week. Running is unnecessary." The thing that made me comfortable immediately with my PS is that he had been a runner (just too busy with practice to train, but he got it). I am not good at it, but it is good to me, and I'll be damned if someone is going to say it's unnecessary.

CLC

Here, here, goldlining!!!  My bs said almost those exact words..."you just have to walk several times a week.   Running is unnecessary."  I think he actually used the word "unnecessary."  He really ticked me off.

orangemat

Unnecessary, really?? Wow, that stinks... my PS said "sure, you can go back to running a week after surgery... as long as you don't move your arms too much...." Wha??? Whatever, I took that to mean that I could indeed run soon after both my UMX and TE exchange procedures, but that I needed to keep the intensity low. Actually, after the second surgery, my tactic was to alternate days of running with days of walking, and that helped to bring my running fitness back a lot quicker, believe it or not. I plan to do that again with my upcoming surgery next month, since I have a half marathon six weeks later.

So now I'm shopping for a fall marathon, and I'm thinking Hartford CT might be an option. Anyone here have any experience with it?  

eulabt

orangemat...good luck with the lottery. That is how I got into the half and maybe going that route with you for the full:)

goldlining

 Yay! I took my shortness of breath to the GP today and it was her partner covering. This one gets running. I'll get the chest xray results Tuesday and she signed my Rx for the lymphedema physiotherapist. In the mean time, she told me I can run as much as I feel like. I may not go outside in the snow this weekend, but I'm going to Florida next week :-D

blackjack

Goldlining...sorry to hear about your breathing issues. I have some lung issues from rads I received. I have asthma now and frequently get pneumonia because of my scarred left lung. What part of Florida are you going too? I go to Captive every year, lay on the beach and watch the ocean waves. aaahhhhh.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

BJ

goldlining

I have a meeting in Ft Lauderdale. Another participant that I see at the meetings is also a runDisney fan (lucky gal's club trains at WDW) and we're bringing our shoes. I wish I had been greedy enough to book extra days there. We I have a Monday holiday following the meeting, but am coming home Saturday. I am crazy! I have not had rads, and my breathing was fine doing a half at 6 weeks post op, so it probably wasn't the anaesthesia either. Curious what the xray will show. Hoping that a run in the warm humid air will help. 

TreadSoftly

Hi everyone!  Thanks firstcall for organising the new thread!

Ive been away for a while, busy with work & planning my wedding in 6 weeks time - EEK!  

Still running fairly regularly - its such a fantastic way to stay in shape!  Doing a lot more gym work recently - bike, cross-trainer, rowing & weights - so I feel stronger & more toned than usual, which is just as well as I have wedding dress fittings starting next week!!

firstcall

ok....I need to get my running going better.  My surgeries sided tracked me, and I have only had a couple of runs since the end of dec.  I have been doing the bike, and elliptical, but I need to get some runs in.  I guess I'm putting it here to make a commitment. 

dltnhm

YAY. Saw my PS today and got the green light to RUN. I get 8 days before chemo begins to run unfettered. Well. Except he said "no bra" still for another week. Good thing I am little but I have no idea how running braless will feel on the reconstructed side. I am going to take that part easy. Have been walking in the mall and walking the treadmill at a fairly quick pace so hope I can get in some ood ones. And then, my plan is to run through chemo however much I am able one day at a time.



Can't wait to lac those shoes tomorrow morning!

ymac16

Wow dltnhm, no bra?? I never got that directive! I absolutely need one despite the fact that I am small chested too, but that's mainly because I have expanders in and they slosh around too much without one. Please let's keep this thread active!!! Like firstcall, I really need to get out there more and maybe if we keep this going it will motivate me. I really intended to go out for a run this past weekend but I wimped out because we finally go winter in DC, it was so cold and windy plus we got a dusting of snow that I just couldn't muster up the energy to get out there. Now, of course I'm regretting it because I feel like such a slug. I'm going to push myself to get out there this week!

goldlining

I'm off to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow and hope to run some either tomorrow or Thursday. Like firstcall, I hope typing it here makes it so! 

I never got a general directive one way or the other on bras for everyday post-DIEP (just feels weird without, although I am trying it today), but he did say use a firm sportsbra for running.

Melissa10

Hi!  I am SO VERY happy to find this thread  I am currently mid-chemo (3/6 done!) and have been able to run a few times outside and at the gym. I am a coach for Leukemia and Lymphoma society's Team in Training program so running is very important to my healthy mindset and as such, recovery! Like many of you have said, some days are better than others but keeping race goals for the future has been crucial for me. My last chemo is April 13th and I am signed up for the Fairfield, CT half in Late June. Orangemat - My husband and I have run Hartford for 2 years now. He did the full and I the half. Both GREAT courses. I can answer any questions for you as we also used to live up there. I actually had my core biopsy a few days after Hartford this past year. Hoping to run it this year cancer free Also hoping to get into the NYC full by lottery. fingers crossed! Eulabt - I did the NYC half last year. Such a GREAT GREAT race. I will be there to cheer my team this year. I am sure you will qualify for guaranteed entry for the full. It's a fast course!

Question to anyone with experience - I already had a lumpectomy and plan was to have radiation after chemo. My surgeon tells me, I dont need radiation if I have a mastectomy. I am starting to think I want to skip rads and go for a bi-lateral mx with immediate recon. I am 33. Dont want to think about this BC drama again...ever...and have a 2 year old...and want more kids...blah blah..so just curious, those of you who had bi mx surgery, realistically, how long will I be banned from running? I already had node removal with lumpectomy so would just be bilateral mx. Also, I wonder how long my surgeon would let me wait to have the mastectomy? After I get into and run the NYC full in November perhaps? haha. Thanks runners!