Exercise During Chemo

Options
Leigh74
Leigh74 Member Posts: 18
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I am a runner and approaching my 4th (and last!!) TC treatment.  I have been successfully running, swimming, biking and doing yoga through treatment so far.  I am doing everything much slower and less than normal.  I a do triathlons, etc so I wanted to keep up as much fitness as I could.  I was curious if anyone else continued exercising during treatment?  I did notice today I was VERY tired after my run so I am thinking my RBC being down is the culprit? I have my last treatment 11/21 and was also curious after finishing chemo how long it may have take others to bounce back?  I only ran 5 miles today on trails and it felt like 10!!

And I was told by my med onc exercise during chemo is fine.  I had a few friends question me on this :)

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited November 2013


    Leigh.....would say about six weeks past chemo for things to perk back up. I had a different protocol...AC+T, and about six weeks post final Taxol, I noticed I was power walking. Yes, I would also blame the RBC as when mine came back up during Taxol, I had tons more energy. In retrospect, I look at my chemo period as "dialing it down".


    BTW...congrats on exercising during chemo. Really the best thing you could do for yourself. You don't drag nearly as much, and you recover much more quickly in the near term. I do think the long term recovery curve is about the same, but I will take being at 98% vs 78% full energy.


    The big thing is that you have been getting enough exercise so that most of your core strength should be intact once the chemo SEs wear off. I always found it very funny that I was fitter than my infusion team. I don't think you will need a lot of extra work to "build back up". It should happen naturally as your RBC recovers and you continue your exercise routine.


    Congrats on being at the finish line...... - Claire

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited November 2013


    I was active, but not as much as either of you. I also had a serious allergic reaction to Neulasta after the 2nd TX of 4 TC that required Benedryl and steroids simultaneously. The entire time the elevator at work was out for replacement. I worked on the 6th floor and had to run to the 1st and back a few times a day. By the last TX my RBC was so low the MO wanted to give me a blood transfusion. I could barely climb those stairs. So yes RBC can cause you to slow down a bit.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories