Any Long-Distance Athletes there already in treatment?

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Nightnurse
Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness

I am a 51yo long-distance runner, cyclist, and duathlete.  I have been diagnosed recently with IDC.  Will be having dbl mx then chemo in next few weeks.  What has been your experience with continuing your physical activities and doing the treatment too?  I want to stay as active as I can without depleting my resistance and ability to fight this disease.  Any hints?

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited April 2012

    I am not a runner but I am a fitness instructor and I exercise daily at a very high intensity. I did TC x4 and was able to exercise 5 days a week all through chemo. My doctor would not let me teach aerobics during chemo. ...I really don't know why as I still could have. I did do the elliptical daily for an hour on a higher level though. I just listened to my body and adjusted the level if I was a little more tired that day. On tired days I was on level 9 and on more good days I was on level 15 or 16. I finished chemo and went back to teaching aerobics a few weeks after I was done. In fact my class never knew I did chemo as I could keep up with them and I had used cold caps to keep my hair so I still looked the same. I finished chemo the first week of May last year. I now started running and run 6miles three days a week, do yoga, teach aerobics and do the elliptical. I also do weights. What was funny is my best friend came to be with me on my last chemo and I took her to the gym with me the day after chemo and she could not keep up with me. I tortured her with my weight workout. My biggest advice is to listen to your body and do what you can on that day. Be kind to yourself as some days are harder than others. Drink tons of water daily. I have also found yoga to be very helpful for me since reconstruction. I also recommend a physical therapist post mx to help get range of motion back. I did exercises and stretches daily after surgery. I got a booklet of post op exercises and stretches from my breast center. Ask your doctor for some. If you don't get any PM me your email and I can email you a copy of what I was given. Good luck. You CAN do this!!!! It was not as bad as I thought it would be.

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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2012

    Mdg: thank you for you wonderful response. Again, I reminded that this disease is not the end of the world. I hope it turns out for me like it did you. I will do everything I can do to make it like that. Its reassuring that everybody doesnt have a wretched time of things. I have hope !!!!!! I have heard people say the coldcaps worked as well. I might try them.

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited April 2012

    Hi Nightnurse-

    Come check out the runners forum.

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  • BikerLee
    BikerLee Member Posts: 355
    edited April 2012

    Hey there

    I'm a cyclist, and I rode every single day of chemo (except a business trip).

    EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

    Yeah, some days were slow and short rides.....

    In general, it was moving that most reliably made me feel better....

    I hope to get back to racing late summer /early fall....

    Hope this helps.....

    Lee

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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2012

    groovygirls;  thanks for the heads up!!

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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2012

    BikerLee:  That is what I'm hearing from most people on the subject of exercise.....continuing your activity during treatment usually benefits most people.   I hope to continue everything I'm doing....Thank you for your response!!!   I have HOPE!!!

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  • sbaaronson
    sbaaronson Member Posts: 230
    edited April 2012

    I continued my workouts through chemo as well. I had my treatment on Fridays after my workout, trained on Sat and Sunday, took Monday and Tuesday off and was back at it on Wednesday. I definitely slowed down as the treaments went on(4 rounds of TC) but I refused to stop. I do have to say that my muscles "softened" during treament and my body 16 months later is not what it was before this. But, the chemo put me in chemopause and then it was on to tamoxifen. It's been a tough and sometimes upsetting athletic adjustment, working without hormones...

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  • orangemat
    orangemat Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2012
    Hi there, I see groovygirls already got here to invite everyone; here's the link to the 2012 Running Thread. Smile
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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited May 2012

    Iam having to be very patient because I have 4 drains still and cant run yet and my arms/shoulders are still sore and weak so I can't bike.  It's hard because everybody around you is continuing on with their activities without you.   

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  • BikerLee
    BikerLee Member Posts: 355
    edited May 2012

    Hey NN

    I'm sorry that you are having so much soreness! Do you have TEs?

    I opted out of recon, and I was back on the bike on day six. But, I had only two drains.

    I totally agree about how hard it is to see your buds out on their bikes getting in the good workouts as well as that quality social time. Plus, you're pre-chemo yet, so you're probably feeling pretty effin awesome, am I right? Heavy sigh.

    When did you have your surgery?

    One option - when I broke myself (wrist several years back - hockey.... And Hip more recently -bike crash) - I borrowed a recumbent. Now now - I know how us upright cyclists feel about those machines, but when it's bent or no ride.... I go with the bent. Happily, I am very connected within the cycling community around here, and I was able to secure a loan both times. That made a HUGE difference because then I could still get out and ride... But without hurting myself.

    When will you start chemo? Do you already onions your regimen?

    Thinking of you.... I know how hard it is to go sans run/ride.... I bet your legs are just aching.....

    Lee

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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited July 2012

    BikerLee:  Thank you for your response!  I apologize for taking so long to respond.  I am half way through chemo with 4 rounds of AC under my belt and just starting Taxol (and hopefully herceptin if insurance approves my equivocal result!)  and Herceptin for 4 rounds.  I ran/rode a duathlon last Sunday the 22nd of July.  I usually take it easy the first few days after chemo but I start back by the 4 th or 5th day after.  I have noticed that I am just winded and fatigued when I work out.  Can't really catch that beautiful deep cleansing breath every so often.  And my ride times and run times are slower that April which was my last duathlon.  Even so, I was able to come in first place in my age group of 50-54.  I will def take that!!!  I feel so much better when I stay on top of my workouts.

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  • cyano
    cyano Member Posts: 67
    edited August 2012

    I'm a mountain climber/runner/long-distance hiker/skier. I got back into running within a week of surgery. However, chemo has been a bit rough and I ended up in the hospital from side effects. I'm still running, but only about a 0.5 mile and I walk several miles. Many people don't have so many side effects from chemo and I can definitely feel my strength come back about 2 weeks after chemo (I do treatment every 3 weeks). So I'm very hopeful to be back in shape in the near future when chemo is done.

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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited September 2012

    Hi, Cyano!!  I just finished my 8 rounds of AC and T/Herceptin.  The Herceptin will go on for a year.  I start rads next week and  tamoxifen.  I am in active chemopause, damn it!  That has been so disruptive. Hot flashes suck.  No other way to say it. I am ready for this to be over so I can get my life back.  I have done several duathlons during chemo and i run and cycle, too.  Now I am working with a personal trainer to improve my core strength and flexibility.  I have some long bike tours coming up in the next month.  I so want to be getting back to some semblence of normal by next spring.  I will have recon in Feb.  Thanks so much for posting!!!

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