Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited August 2015
    image

    In the spice souk in Dubai -

    I don't have photos of the inside of this shop/stall - it was literally floor to ceiling, all 3.5 walls, with little drawers and bins of spices and herbs in all different formats - whole, ground, chopped, you name it.

    In the foreground the little round balls are dried limes if I remember correctly. The bin with the white chunks on the front left is frankincense. He also had at least half a dozen kinds of dried flower - small dried roses, for example and lavender in different forms. I bought both whole turmeric root and powdered. I was leery of traveling with powdered turmeric but he sealed each of the little bags quite efficiently and there was no spillage.

    This was just one shop of many. I could have spent half a day here, easily.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    Thanks, everyone! More later, just skimming threads before dinner.

    Hopeful, I love your suk photo! Nothing smells like those spice stalls, does it? I worked in Israel for a year when I was younger, and a Jerusalem highlight was always going to the spice sellers.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited August 2015
    Susan. - What a gift it would be to bottle that aroma and bring it home! I do think though that it lingers in our sensory memories.
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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited August 2015

    Thanks kbee! That is exactly the idea: I had been walking a lot before dx and then really slagged (slugged?) off, so want to get back in shape and ready ('in shape' is a relative term, I am in awe of your plans for a half marathon. I am definitely a walker, not a runner thanks to arthritis in both knees).

    Got some good news/bad news today: had apt with bs to check one of my incisions that has been stubborn in healing. She is now happy that it is finally healing (bs removed nipple in addition to doing lx, due to tumor location right below the nipple, and did a bit of oncoplasty. nipple incision took a while to really start healing. Anyway, she is much happier with how it looks, but wants MO to wait one additional week to start chemo. Good news: one additional week to get my walking strength up. Bad news: one more week to feel anxious before I start chemo. Solution to both: more walking! :-)

    Take care all

    Octogirl

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited August 2015

    25.7 mile ride, 1575 feet of climbing, and it was a glorious day and ride! And I burned 1,011 calories. Now to try to not eat them back haha!

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited August 2015

    KBeee, you are inspirational.

    Today I finally got out and walked! 2.6 miles, and all uphill (uh-huh). Temp in the low 80s and less humid than it was. Digestive system cooperated. Felt good.

    That spice market looks amazing.

    Keep walking, Octogirl.

    We're going away this weekend for more camping. First to an open house at our CSA farm in upstate NY, then to a campground in Vermont for a few days. I very much hope to do some hiking if not actual mountain climbing!

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  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited August 2015

    Dr. recommendations are so different. I, too, was told not to take turmeric supplements, but that turmeric in cooking was good/fine. I was also told that estrogen found in beef/chicken is different that estrogen produced in the body, so I didn't need to buy hormone-free meat.

    My tomatoes also have that pointy end. Not sure what kind they are, but they're good. At the beginning of the season, I had tomatoes ripening like crazy. But now the plant is loaded with green tomatoes that are taking forever to ripen. Any ideas, oh gardeners?

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2015

    Octogitl, I walked 3-6 miles every day through chemo. It gave me s mental and physical focus and was my sanity saver. I played my music and just walked and walked. Everyone had different ways of dealing with stress. You can see mine

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    Octo, Kbee, T, well done all of you. I fell asleep and didn't walk but I'm trying to shake it off and get a short one in before dark.

    Hopeful- a Fabulous photo! Yes somehow I wish there was a little supplemental disc you could get for the smell of s photo. The spice market, the ocean, a garden. They incorporate sound. Why not smell?

    Anyway, thanks. I took a little mini vaca just daydreaming about it

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  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited August 2015

    As an aside on turmeric, I am going to research an anti-inflamatory diet. I guess there's a pretty good book at the library that I will check out soon.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    I guess I need to ask about turmeric. But as a TN I figure I'm screwed either way, so why not try? I only take it for pain, not as a supplement, T I do cook with it. I also take white willow capsules instead of asprin. Both are the ground whole plant, not extract.

    You guys are amazing! Good work octogirl, getting in shape pre chemo is the best thing you can do!

    Those spices look like heaven!

    Kbee, are you planning to run thru radiation? What are you doing to protect your armpit hide?

    4 slow and sore miles today, 200 abs, arms....panicking at the thought of not being able to run during rads! So stressed out!
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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    8/24

    1 he yoga

    1.5 miles

    3000 steps

    45 minutes active

    image

    Got the walk in at the 11th hour, Octo

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    Rainny- great job in the uphill walking! Have a great camping trip,and hope you get some pretty hikes in!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited August 2015
    Well done, Katy, and thanks for the gorgeous sunset.
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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    You all rock!

    Here's today's tomato porn:

    image

    This is a variation on Bittman's polenta crust pizza. Next time we make it, we may use a slightly less-coarse polenta, and bake the crust for around 10 minutes before adding the toppings. It was a little wet and very crumbly, but quite good.

    8/24:

    • (radiation #32)
    • 1.0 hr T (2.5 MPH avg) + Fitbit steps + stretches

    = 4.15 miles


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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited August 2015

    Those sound like good changes, Susan, especially baking it a bit first. Thanks for sharing your dinner!

    A mere 11 miles on the bike and upper body ST today. I really, really need to get back to my kettlebells but just don't seem to have the energy for it. But I know that doing it would build the energy...

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  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited August 2015

    yummy Susan, is that gluten free? I'm going to try to make a tomato pie this week, wondering about using that for the pie crust. It looks beautiful and delicious!!

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    Absolutely X-rated tomato porn. I wouldn't be surprised if the jack-booted food thugs rushed your door!

    I have a thing for polenta. Just sayin'.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited August 2015

    I wonder if outbreaks of food fights/food porn are common on bco or whether we're setting a new standard?

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited August 2015
    image


    More from the souk - there's cinnamon in the very front, delphinium buds (I believe) on the right, chiles on the far left. The yellow twigs are whole turmeric root.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    I'd say trendsetting, yes. Lovely pics again, Hopeful. What would they do with delphinium buds I wonder? Medicinal or just like a sachet in a bowl? Pretty and smells nice?

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited August 2015

    I like logging in to see what you west coast people have been saying after I went to bed. 7 AM here and everyone else is asleep!

    Good job on the walking and yoga, Katy. And SO happy the pain is receding.

    KSusan, your tomato porn looks incredible. I'm with you on using a finer cornmeal, and that was very smart to use aluminum foil underneath. Ultimately, I wanted mine to roll out a little thinner and be crispier. I wonder if Bittman would appreciate knowing that a bunch of breast cancer patients were improving his recipe!

    Love the spice market photos.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    yesterday did 4 slow and painful lol, 150 abs, arms. Today, radiation 1. The thought of not being able to run is making me panicky. Not even kidding.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    Jen. I'm with you today. Try to breathe. You have GOT THIS! You will find ways to spin the free radicals out. Talk to your RO about how running keeps you out if trouble. Maybe he'd have some suggestions.

    You have got this!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2015

    Why can't you run? Mine said it is ok; just to hold my arm out. I will be like an olympic torch runner..but holding up a water bottle instead

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  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited August 2015

    Something to keep in mind LBF- you'll likely be more than 3/4 done with rads before you have any noticeable skin changes like redness or peeling. I liked knowing that for the majority of my treatments I wouldn't be dealing with that, just moisturizing like mad and counting down the days.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited August 2015

    How many days do people usually get rads? Do you go every day or take weekends off?

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  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited August 2015

    Most go M-F with weekends off. Total treatments for us seem to vary between 25 and 35 with some women getting a week or so of "boosts" at the end where a different type of beam targets the scar area or the tumor bed. Sometimes a machine will be down and you might have to miss a day, and my RO said if I needed to miss an appointment due to a planned trip or a work conflict it wouldn't be a big deal, they could add on at the end (like school kids and snow days!) I just wanted done so I never missed a day. Had one appointment reset from morning to afternoon because of an equipment upgrade but other than that, no delays, just showed up every day and got 'er done!

    The staff was so nice and the process became routine quickly. I would stop by the food court at the hospital after every treatment and fill my travel bottle with fruit infused water and then head in to work. The 5 weeks flew by in retrospect and compared to chemo it was easy peasy.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    Yes, gluten-free. Our own organic tomatoes, basil, oregano, and parsley. And we used buffalo mozzarella, which made the dairy easier for my sweetie to manage. Rolling the crust thinner sounds good. I may also investigate making something more like a polenta cornbread.

    Littleblue, you're likely to be able to run, as Kbeee described. I'm also thinking that a spandex top might help (if needed).

    Radiation is typically every weekday. If you have some event you can't miss (a mandatory work training, for example), anticipate it to your scheduler and they'll see if they can get you in at a different time. I had to reschedule twice and was able to get the 8 AM slot. If your skin gets too sore (or the machine breaks), they'll delay treatment. They can't use a different machine because they've got everything lined up and calibrated for the one you use. Don't assume your anticipated last day will be your last day--give yourself a few days' buffer before your vacation with non-refundable tickets, or another medical procedure, or a promise to visit your kid in another town.

    Radiation increases lymphedema risk, so keep that arm nicely moisturized and do your drainage or exercises. (This said I know many women, including my mother, who were told nothing about LE, and therefore did nothing to prevent it, and the majority haven't developed LE.)

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    Tx 1 down. Well, the reason my RO said not to run was because of armpit chafing. He didn't suggest holding my arm over my head lol, but I'm gonna try it! I've also been researching bodyglide antichafe dope. He pretty much presented the worst case scenario as far as skin breakdown to me, then said "do whatever you want, but I don't' recommend running, but if you DO run, we will figure out a way to patch you up". Um...thanks? So, now I"m looking to join a gym that has a stairmaster. I think I can keep my armpit open if I hold the rails.

    Kbeee- you are definitly planning to keep running? What's your antichafe strategy?

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