Rebounding with Stage IV bone mets

Options
alternativelycurious
alternativelycurious Member Posts: 3
edited December 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
Rebounding with Stage IV bone mets
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • alternativelycurious
    alternativelycurious Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2014

    Hi everyone,

    I'm here on behalf of my mom; I hope that doesn't cause a problem, but I've scoured the internet for the last few hours and I've found a lot of info on rebounding (jumping on a trampoline) with cancer, but nothing on rebounding with bone mets. Specifically, the safety of rebounding with bone mets.

    A little background. My mom was diagnosed with stage IV last September (14 months ago), with bone mets in her pelvis, spine and skull. She started on Xeloda and has done super, super well; no active mets, bones have healed, tumor markers have been stable at near-normal levels for the last 8 months at least. She's also gotten monthly Zometa infusions. She has been diagnosed with osteopenia and she did have a hairline fracture in her femur, that went unrecognized because she insisted she had thrown out her back, the summer she was diagnosed. That has healed.

    Her doctor really doesn't support any alternative therapies, supplements etc. I tried to discuss some of the research out there (and I have a masters in interdisciplinary science from the same university/comprehensive cancer center (I spent two years investigating the impact of whole body hyperthermia on tumor vasculature, wrote my thesis on it), so I'm fairly well-educated about these topics) and she shot me down pretty quickly. My mom likes her, though, and the Xeloda is working, so I'm not fighting it for the time being.

    Not looking for medical advice (obviously :)) and we're going to bring it up at her monthly appt next week for the good it will do, but I bought myself a Jumpsport rebounder on Black Friday (half off!) and my mom is interested in trying it out. I've found quite a bit of support for rebounding with osteopenia/porosis. But I'm just curious if anyone here who has bone mets has used a rebounder without problem (or even with benefit?).

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited December 2014

    i would be interested to know as well.

    i am stage 3 so far and been rebounding for may be 2 months. i developed LE from yoga i think and rebounding does help the swelling. my swelling subsided.

    regarding the MO not being open minded...may be you can shop for an integrative doctor?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2014

    Regarding being here for your mother, that is encouraged as carers and relatives have major roles to play and be supported.

    Many people here, along with conventional treatment, use complementary therapies with great success to minimise SEs, improve general health and fitness, along with exercise they are comfortable with. Many doctors are very open to supplements and safe exercise etc.

    There is the risk of falls with a rebounder, for someone with osteopenia or other bone-weakening conditions, that needs to be considered, but it sounds interesting that it helped with LE.

    Keep us informed.

    The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited December 2014

    Hi. I wouldn't for two reasons. First, the spinal mets. I don't think an already injured spinal column should be unnecessarily jarred. Secondly, with Zometa, there is always the possibility of spontaneous fracture of the femur. Being that your mom already fractured that area, I wouldn't risk it.  I'm not a doctor and you probably shouldn't go by what I have to say, but the consequences of another break would be pretty serious. If the bone marrow is affected, there's no way it would ever heal properly. My doctor suggested low impact exercises, preferably in water, or a recumbant bike. I know it's tough. You're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place....you have to do weight bearing exercises to keep your bones strong, but you also have to be very careful not to expose your bones to any jarring motions. Even though your mom's onc might not be into alternative treatments, he'd be the one to ask how much her bones can handle (or another oncologist who's a little more open-minded). Best wishes to your mom.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited December 2014

    Rebounding with bone mets certainly sounds like it might be a bit riskier than its benefits are worth. I've actually just started jogging a bit (very carefully, and in little spurts when I walk), in spite of extensive bone mets and after a hip replacement and rod inserted in my femur. But my ortho surgeon has cleared me to do anything, and my onc agrees, with the possible exception of skiing, which she seems to feel is too risky for a serious fall. So I think you have to look at the risk vs. benefit. Is there something safer she could do with less risk of another fracture, especially if she was to lose her balance and have a twisting type of fall? Or have her docs also cleared her to do anything, and is she so athletic that the risk of a loss of balance while rebounding is extremely minimal? I would certainly want an ortho surgeon to weigh in on the stability of the now healed hip fracture, given her bone mets dx.

    And very interesting about your expertise re. hyperthermia. I hope you'll maybe share that knowledge on this thread or elsewhere, especially if it's pertinent to breast cancer and/or bone mets.

    Hugs to you and your Mom! Deanna


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pipers_dream
    pipers_dream Member Posts: 618
    edited December 2014

    I don't know enough to say whether she should or shouldn't but I can't believe your mom's onc is so close minded that he doesn't see the value of exercise or could at least offer an opinion as to whether it would be a good idea. One thing she might could do though is stick with what's called the health bounce, which is just a very gentle up and down motion, w/o ever getting the feet off the mat. If she's in danger of falling, you could also get the bar that most models usually offer, so your mom can have something to hold onto.

    And I want to echo Deanna in that it would be great to hear more about hyperthermia. I think they do that in Germany and I'd like to know more.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited December 2014

    Exercise isn't alternative. I can't imagine a doctor not being able to advise on levels and types of exercise.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited December 2014

    I think the problem might be that when you present with numerous mets, an oncologist's focus shifts to keeping you alive. Not that exercise is alternative, but it's probably not even on an oncs radar at that point. Treatment and symptom control is what their worried about. I have a great onc, but honestly if I asked about what I could and couldn't do exercise wise, I'm sure he'd say that's the least of my worries. Not to be dismissive or mean, but just being honest.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited December 2014

    I had limited spinal mets, had once been osteopenic, have used a rebounder, mostly to help with constipation, but have never had a hairline fracture. I think that last changes the ballgame. My onc gave me the OK to go skiing and I figured the g-forces with that are more than with a rebounder. I stopped using the rebounder as I tended to pronate on it and had knee problems as a result. Maybe I should have worn my tight ski boots while rebounding.LoopyAlternatively, (no pun intended) one could do the health bounce with a bar as piper suggests. The g-force here might just be the same as walking, but having the support of the bar might be better for your mom.

    I would also be interested in reading your research on hyperthermia. Do you have a link?

     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pipers_dream
    pipers_dream Member Posts: 618
    edited December 2014

    Leggo, I'm guessing you're right.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories