Swimming During and Right After Radiation Treatments

Laura3
Laura3 Member Posts: 59
edited April 2019 in Working on Your Fitness

Hello Ladies.....

Just a quick question...I will finish rads tomorrow and have some skin issues, not awful but some redness and some peeling under the breast.  I have been using silvadine creme and it is helping alot.

I would really like to take a deep water workout class and am worried about getting in the pool.  My oncologist suggested waiting as some women have issues with the chlorine.  I REALLY want to get in the water, for some reason the walking is not doing it for me anymore. 

I have a strong feeling I may jump in and take my chances, but am looking for someone to tell me it is a bad idea.

Thanks for your help, I hope all of you are well.

Laura

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Comments

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited June 2009

    My radiologist said no to chlorine pools because they dry out the skin too much; but she approved our pool at home because we use a salt chlorinator which actually moisturizes.

    If you try it, bring the Silvadine with you and reapply right away. I've been using the Silvadine for a couple of days and see an improvement already.

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  • BFidelis
    BFidelis Member Posts: 156
    edited June 2009

    Hi Laura,

    I actually continued to swim during rads.  Rad. onc. was skeptical when I asked at the beginning.  Explained I had been doing this for years, was a former lifeguard and understood skin issues re: chlorine.  Told her if I started to notice ANY problems, I would stop & she OK'd.  After my 1/2 mile swim, I would immediately shower extra long and slather on the goop they gave me (summer 2007 - can't remember what it was, but it was what THEY gave me.)  At my 2-week follow-up after finishing rads, she was REALLY happy.  She said she wanted to make me her poster child for low/no skin impact during rads. BTW, I have very fair skin that sunburns easily and have latex sensitivity, so it isn't like I am "tough skinned."  If you're taking votes, I say go for it with extreme dilligence regarding rinsing and super-duper-gooping.

    Peace,

    Beth

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  • Laura3
    Laura3 Member Posts: 59
    edited June 2009

    Thanks so much for your advice!   I finished radiation today!!! It was a great day, the techs said a poem, threw confetti and I rang the bell!  A great time all around....

    I actually am not a swimmer, except the hanging out by the pool when the kids were little and trips to the beach...  I just feel like I want to be in water.  Not really sure why.  Maybe its the peace that water brings.  I have been walking, but my y offers a class that sounds fun.

    Thanks again, I hope you are all well....laura

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  • natalie43
    natalie43 Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2009

    Today I finished #30 out of 33 radiation treatments, and I've gone swimming five days a week since the beginning. My radiation oncologist said that after the first couple of weeks it might become too uncomfortable for me, but it hasn't. I think I probably have Miaderm to thank for that. I'm on my third tube of it. Obviously I will have to stop swimming if I develop blisters since open wounds aren't allowed in the gym pool. So far there's no hint of blisters, thank goodness.

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  • JaimeAndrews
    JaimeAndrews Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2009

    Congrats on finishing radiation. I have 5 more treatments and can hardly wait to be where you are. Haven't been swimming a while but will have to ask about that as the weather here in Sacramento is now over 100. The radiation has really tightened up my expanders and they hurt more. Wonder how long it will take my body to calm down and recover from that?

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  • Laura3
    Laura3 Member Posts: 59
    edited August 2009

    Natalie43 and Jamie Andrews...

    Thanks so much.....I finished on June 25 and even though my doctor said no, I jumped in the pool the next morning.  I had no open sores or blisters, just some redness and peeling.  I just needed to do something.  I swam in a deep water work out class everyday for the last 5 weeks.  I have felt better because of it than I have in the last 6 months.  Not only was it the people in the class, all women with a variety of health issues, but the water was amazing.  I never felt any stress on my body, just a nice resistance from pushing through the water.  I lost a bit of weight, but definitely inches came off.  It also helped with the fatigue!!!  I finally take a nap because I want to, not because I have to.  

    I am glad you both are almost finished.  I finally feel like I have some normalcy to my life.  I actually forgot I had a doctors appointment yesterday!!!  Oh, well.....To go a day without thinking about cancer is like a vacation...

    Take Care and Hang in there you are almost done....

    Laura

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  • campingmom
    campingmom Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2009

    I too was afraid to take the plunge but I did water aerobics  all through radiation. The biggest issue for me was my absence of hair and how I could hide it. I finally worked out fake hair under a  hat.

    Then this summer I wanted to go to a water park and just did it with a swim cap and fun friends! I was not going to let this continue to run my life. It was the best day of the whole summer and the chlorine actually dried and improved my rash.

    I finish rads tomorrow.

    Camping Mom

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  • natalie43
    natalie43 Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2009

    I'm happy to report that my skin never became a problem. It turned pink in places, but I had no blisters or peeling at all, so there was no reason for me to give up swimming. I worried after the last treatment (August 13) that maybe I was going to be surprised by a late skin eruption, but it didn't happen. I kept on applying Miaderm for about a week but probably didn't need to since the pinkness faded very rapidly.

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  • Nyr4evr
    Nyr4evr Member Posts: 37
    edited April 2018

    I was told to make sure I showered immediately following swimming. Bring my cream and lather up. I did not have any breakage if skin at the time. I did it twice and then chickened out

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  • bmw1958
    bmw1958 Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2019

    thanks for posting ..i'm the same as you...Im 60 now but been a swimmer and former lifeguard all my life runner too...its hard to stop this stuff...im starting radiation soon and i want to get back to the pool...as soon as my incision heals under my arm im going for it...had breast cancer 3 years ago double mastectomy and swam as soon as i could ...unfortunately i had cancer in my lymph nodes under my arm same side as the original cancer...but only in 2 nodes ...had all taken out now healing...im antsy to start swimming again..its awesome for a person mental and emotional as well as physical state...i know they say that they advise to wait but im thinking about going for it.....thanks for posting girls your thoughts and experiences.

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