Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

Hopeful82014

Today: Boost #7, completing 35 of 35. DONE.

Hopeful82014

Katy - I'm glad to see Jack getting out and earning a living. It's great,too, that he takes you for walks.

Trvler

Hopeful, I am not sure what a boost is. Are you done with rads?

Hopeful82014

Hi, Allison - YES! I am D.O.N.E. with radiation!!

A boost is NOT a form of liquid nutrition. A boost is NOT an assist in getting over a fence or up on a horse.

A boost is treatment that is targeted at a specific area, generally the tumor bed, and administered in addition to the treatment the area's been receiving all along as part of the whole breast irradiation (WBI). The boost uses a different form of energy from the WBI to achieve very directed control of that area, since recurrences are most likely to arise from the tumor bed in the case of a lumpectomy.

I now have a very distinct, pink area on the side of my breast, superimposed on the paler pink achieved over the previous 7 weeks. It mirrors the tumor cavity, which makes it rather interesting to see. (OK, I find it interesting...)

Boosts vary depending on whether one's had a lumpectomy or mastectomy, the location and depth of the tumor, etc. A computer generated mold is made for each patient. The number of boosts varies, too. Many women have 5. I had seven but we had even talked about 8.

There - now you know MUCH more than you ever wanted to know about boosts. And, since it's Friday, no quiz at the end so you can promptly forget this if you wish.

sailorbev

Oh, thank you for setting me straight.  😕 Sorry, Katy and Linda, for getting you mixed up. BTW, I lived in Indiana for 3 years and really liked it. 

KBeee

Congrats Hopeful! Happy for you!

3 mile walk today. HOT!!!

Italychick

2.5 mile walk, had to quit early cuz 12 year old dog Jack was struggling. I live close to the ocean, and it was 80 degrees at the coast on our ocean front walk. Crazy!

Hopeful82014

Thanks, Kbee.

Three miles in mid-August in a surgical boot is impressive!

Teresa, I think 80 at the ocean feels warmer because of the humidity, at least for me. Any signs of cooling?

Italychick

no, we just gave up and put the air conditioner on. It is also the humidity, we aren't used to it. How did I ever grow up in Southern Illinois without air conditioning?

Hopeful82014

People were tougher back then, Theresa What part of So. Illinois? I had family in Carbondale (He was Dean of Students at USI) and have fond memories of our visits over the years.

Italychick

I grew up on DuQuoin, about 20 minutes from Carbondale. Back when they still allowed the crazy Halloween parties in the streets there! Going there for a trip over Labor Day for my 35 year class reunion. Crazy, can't believe it has been 35 years since I graduated high school

Hopeful82014

How time flies, hmmm? Should be a fun trip, I'd think, especially if you still have family and there.

octogirl

woohoo Hopeful! Congrats on being done!

Jackbirdie

Hopeful- Jack, Tutti, and I wish you CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🔔🔔🔔🎈🎈🎈👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

For getting through this with such grace.

littleblueflowers

Congrats Hopeful!

You guys are so inspiring!

Ok so I went for my hill run and had to hide in a cave because a giant lightening storm came over. Over 1000 strikes! Then, came home and made it about 10 miles befor the next round hit. We have 4 good sized fires going and I'm sure more tomorrow. Now, arm stretches and abs.

rainnyc

Congratulations, Hopeful!!

Yesterday: chemo in the morning and I stayed put for most of the day, for some reason more wiped than usual after Taxol. Definitely an exercise rest day. In the evening, we went to a minor league game in Coney Island, where I ate ballpark food (hot dog, sauerkraut, fries), knowing I'd pay for it, but what the heck. It t was worth it! Even bought a beer, which tasted like soap, so donated it to DH. Fabulous seats for $17, though the hometown team lost 9-0:

ksusan

8/14:

• 1.0 hr T (2.6 MPH avg) + stretches
• (radiation #26)
• .5 hr T (2.4 MPH avg) + Fitbit steps + stretches

= 6.01 miles

Jackbirdie

Littleblue- YOU are inspiring.

Nice workouts, Ksusan!

Rainny- doing something so "Sunday afternoon normal" was go great. Glad you got to enjoy. A real Coney Island dog! What fun! Hope your digestive system takes it all in stride.

Forgot to post mine for yesterday. 2500 steps. I had reset my goal this week for 3500 steps a day, as the steep climb to 10,000 was too much for me. I'm not quite getting to my new goal either. Partly due to the move, partly due to muscle soreness that came on mysteriously a week after starting Tamoxifen. Will keep trying.

mysunshine48

How are you all posting how many steps you take? Is there any way to do this without having a Fitbit? Anyway, I did 1 and 1/2 miles on the treadmill yesterday.....slow walking and slow peddling 5 miles on the bike. Going to see if I can do it today too. One month PFT and trying, but endurance and strength is just not there! I know it takes time, so really trying to take it easy. Wish my hsir would start growing!

KBeee

5 mile walk in the crazy heat. Hit my 10,000 steps already! I use a Fit Bit but when I count steps, it actually underestimates them. Time to make some salsa.

Jackbirdie

hi Lynn- I downloaded a free app on my phone. (iPhone but all smartphones have access to a variety of apps)

It runs in the background but you need to keep your phone on your person all the time.

There are several to choose from. I thought I would try this before I got a Fitbit. The system breaks down in the human component, not the mechanical, haha. But good for you. Excellent results so soon after!

Kbee- Salllllsssaaaaaaaa....yum! Remember that Seinfeld episode?

Jackbirdie

Salsa for Kbee

all others welcome but only if you want to laugh

Italychick

25.4 miles on bike, 700 feet of climbing. Too hot to do the 35 miles today. But I will take it!

littleblueflowers

suck ing smoke like crazy today- will run if the wind shifts otherwise try to do excercises that don't require breathing lol. Maybe time to join a gym with an air filter system..

Trvler

Katy: Take your time. You will get there!

I haven't been working out as often. The kids are out of camp now and start school next Tuesday so it an be hard. Also trying to gain a few pounds (I know, don't hate me) before surgery. I actually would prefer to lose a few and I think I could easily do it because i don't find myself really wanting to eat or getting very hungry. I want to go back and eat healthy stuff again.

octogirl

Just got a new iPhone yesterday and just this morning realized that it had a steps program already loaded. Nice bonus! Going to try it for a while before I get a fitbit...Shows 5,000 steps already today! Did one 1.5 mile walk and ran some errands...going to go out again tonight once it cools off....

Octogirl

KBeee

Katy, I miss Seinfeld! I wish TV had more genuinely funny shows like that!

My phone says I have 12, 840 steps. My Fitbit is below that... By about 1,000. I am not sure why they can't be a bit closer!!! I did charge my Fitbit for a while, but not 1,000 steps worth!

Italychick

Cheryl and I laugh about smoke during our bike rides. Some days we say we have sucked car exhaust, smoked a pack of cigarettes and a few joints, maybe some meth. It's crazy how much you smell when you exercise outdoors. Hope the smokiness calms down soon, we had a fire that came within several hundred feet of our house, (the Carlsbad Poinsettia fire last year), and our air quality was so poor it was crazy.

Hopeful82014

Mysunshine4 - if you don't use a fitbit or a smartphone (or don't keep it in your pocket all the time) a pedometer is an easy, inexpensive alternative means of tracking your steps. Mine cost about $25 five years ago and has held up very well. I'm totally hooked on it.

mysunshine48

I do have an iPhone, so how do I find the app that runs in the background? I actually tried a Fitbit, but could not figure it out and make it work. Duh, not too technical here! I returned it. I did walk a slow 2 miles on the treadmill today and 5 slow miles on the bike. One month PFT, taking baby steps. But, everything I read says exercise, exercise, exercise