Radiation and Swimming

oranje_mama

Radiation and Swimming

oranje_mama

I just finished 30 rads treatments (25 whole breast and 5 boosts).  I am a swimmer - kept swimming all the way through chemo - and was beside myself at the initial advice of my RO that I should not swim at all in a public pool (chlorinated water) for the duration of rads (common advice).  Working with my RO, we agreed that I could keep swimming, following some preventative measures, until the point that RO advised me to stop.  Well, happy to say that I kept swimming all the way through rads.  And, per my doctor, my skin looked "fabulous" at the end.  Thought I'd post my experience here for anyone who wants to keep getting in pool time during rads.  Here's what I did:

1. Do not "waste" pool time.  I only went in the pool if I was going to be doing a swim workout.  No "dips" to cool off.  Make the pool time count (this meant for me, only swimming 2-3 times per week for about an hour each workout).

2. Use aquaphor generously & be prepared to toss your suit at the end.  From the beginning, I smeared myself with a thick layer of aquaphor in the large square where radiation hits immediately before swimming.  My suit is thoroughly soaked through with the stuff (it is a black, thickish material suit - aquasphere is the brand - so coloration-wise, not really noticeable).  

3. Shower immediately following the swim & gently wash the radiated area (I used Eucerin for dry skin wash).

4. General skin care - I followed my RO's instructions religiously all through rads.  For me, this meant using Weleda Calendula cream at night, and immediately following my rads treatment each morning, Calendula lotion (I used Boiron brand) followed by corn starch applied with a makeup brush in the fold under the breast.  (Warning - this is messy - what I would do is bring this stuff with me, and after treatment I would take off my hospital gown, lie it on the bench, and stand over it to apply the corn starch since it tends to fall everywhere).

I had redness, a tiny bit of irritation, one spot of folliculitis, and some soreness.  All normal stuff. Never needed any prescription creams of any kind.  

So, if you are a swimmer and feeling down in the dumps about being "beached" for the duration of rads - I encourage you to talk about this with your doctor and give it a try!

WendyWinslet

Good post!

proudtospin

I am a swimmer and I pulled back on my swimming during rads.  Instead of 5 times a week, I only went occasionally.  You can do it, clearly easier if you swim in a salt water pool vers chlorine.  I actually practice the same routine now to deal with a chlorine sensitively

oranje_mama

So glad that my post helped someone!

Wanted to follow up to say that when I saw my oncologist 2 months after completing rads, she thought I looked amazing.  You could hardly tell from looking at it which breast had been radiated.

And, more importantly, I have had virtually no limitations/trouble with range of motion in my shoulder/upper arm.  I started with a personal trainer one month ago.  Started easy on the weights and exercises involving my arm/shoulder but have quickly built that up.  I have no swelling, no pain, no limitation on range of motion.  I chalk that up at least partly to the fact that I kept swimming!

Carynbrit

I was so happy to see this post. Im usually training for triathlons right now.. but at least wanted to go swimming a few times a week..for shoulder movement but more for the mental aspect. Thanks for the tips!

My rads.onco said go for it unless i see problems.