Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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

    writing/editing citations is the silverware washing of the academic world. 😊

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited September 2015

    been there ksusan. Haven't fully looked at my todo list but have a bad feeling I will be joining you this afternoon, in fact!

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

    3 mile hills walk today and s few more hours of painting

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

    1 hr 15 min on the stairmaster. Was going to hike, but when we got to the trail head, we were informed that there was a manhunt on for a carjacking murder in the area. Came home.

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

    Yeah. Guess that would put the kibosh on wandering around in the woods! Be safe!

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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited September 2015


    Not too much exercise today other than sorting and cleaning out clothes, then carrying them to the car to take to Good Will another day.

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

    Exercise: a walk to Target and another to the Korean grocery. 90 degrees out. Sat on the front stoop and shelled edamame, then went upstairs and shelled shrimp. Summer rolls and edamame/tomato/garlic/cumin stir fry for dinner. All is well, but I'm ready for cooler weather!

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

    9/7:

    • 1.0 hr T (2.5 MPH)
    • stretches + 25 crunches
    • Fitbit steps [incl. long walk]

    = 8.0 miles

    • great blue heron
    • little green heron
    • common merganser
    • wood duck
    • osprey
    • etc.
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  • Sharazhad707
    Sharazhad707 Member Posts: 37
    edited September 2015

    This topic has been so helpful, I love how everyone has such a positive vibe :) It's super contagious and given the really mental week I've had, this is exactly what I've been looking for.

    I started gyming about a year prior to my diagnosis and lost about 6 kgs (YAY for me!) but just didnt have the energy to hit the gym everyday since I started chemo. I've completed three sessions of chemo so far and I have 5 more to go. All the weight I lost came back, and its so depressing. So after reading everyone's posts, I've been inspired to commit myself to 30 mins of yoga every day.

    I used to take protein supplements everyday to assist with weight loss (USN whey protein... if anyone is familiar with their products.....?) and I was wondering if it is safe to take now?

    :)

    S

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  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited September 2015

    Hi Sharazhad,

    A lot of women use the supplements to up protein intake through chemo and rads, I use a hemp based protein powder but I know quite a few women use the whey based. I was shooting for 60 to 100 grams of protein a day during treatment and the supplement powder in a smoothie with Greek yogurt really added the grams. I'm not familiar with the brand you listed, I don't think there would be any contraindications with the protein component, but you might check on any other added ingredients in there, I know a lot of MOs wanted women to discontinue fatty acid supplements and certain vitamins during chemo.

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

    5 miles this morning before rads. Walked 3 and ran 2. This afternoon I'll go to my daughter's cross country meet, so I know I will do my share of running there to see her various places along the course!

    8 rads down. Lots to go.

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

    Karen: You are my hero! Just found I have must also do rads so I am going to be watching you closely during rads and I hope you feel great. My whole goal in life is to get back to Jazzercise.

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

    Hi, sisters in exercise and well being. I have just gotten my date for bmx on September 22. I've been on neoadjuvant chemo and am relieved (if not happy) to be moving ahead with the next phase.

    For those of you who've been through surgery already, how long did it take you to be out and about afterwards? I know it's just a one night hospital stay, and the nurse says it will be a month before I'm back to full activity (at which point I get to start AC--oh, goody). I'd love to hear from anyone who had this surgery and started exercising or even just walking again. Thank you!

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

    I just had a BMX and DIEP and we went out for the first time today which was day 8.

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited September 2015

    First trip to the Y since rads started, hurray! (they closed for their annual tidying up last week)

    30 minutes on the elliptical machine, and a gentle round of the Nautilus machines. Embarrassing how high my heart rate was, though I do tend to take those machines' readings with a grain of salt. But then a generally stressful day for me.

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  • raleighgirl
    raleighgirl Member Posts: 98
    edited September 2015

    I went for a three mile walk a day after I returned from the hospital. I had a BMX at Sloan Kettering. Also walked three miles a day for the next 5 days before the drains were removed. The nurse told me that maybe that was a little too much, but I felt like I had it get out of the apartment.

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

    Take care of yourself and listen to your body, Raleigh.

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  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited September 2015

    Rainy,

    I'm just realizing you hadn't had surgery yet. No worries, you've got this! I remember walking right away after surgery. I was slow but determined. I felt pretty good by day 8 and was driving, grocery shopping and walking twice a day. The worst for me was getting the range of movement back in my arms, that took about 2 months of PT. Now that rads are over I can tell I've lost a little ROM from tissues tightening so I need to get to stretching again. for the first couple of weeks I couldn't reach into high cabinets or pull shirts up over my head. Get a bath sponge on a stick for the shower, that helps you reach things you might not be able to get to otherwise. I went back to work after three weeks.

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

    Rainnyc, I had BMX with no recon on 2/25. I was told to use my arms as little as possible initially and not to stretch or lift more than a 4 oz. cup. I had 4 drains. I did exactly what my surgeon said (though I did do some finger-twiddling and slow arm pumping to move lymph around). Here's what my exercise looked like as I built back up:

    • 2/25: Surgery
    • 2/26: --
    • 2/27: --
    • 2/28: --
    • 3/1: .25 hr slow walk
    • 3/2: 1 hr slow walk
    • 3/3: 1.25 hr slow T
    • 3/4: 1 hr slow T
    • 3/5: 1 hr slow walk
    • 3/6: 1 hr slow T
    • 3/7: 1 hr slow walk
    • 3/8: 1 hr slow walk
    • 3/9: 2 hr walk
    • 3/10: 1 hr slow T
    • 3/11: 2 hr slow T, .5 hr med T
    • 3/12: 1 hr med T

    I wasn't hospitalized--I went home that afternoon. I wouldn't say I was back to normal in a month! It takes time to recover range of motion, build up gradually with a LE PT's guidance, and have energy. Yes, I was back at work, and I was released to drive as long as my hands didn't go higher than my shoulders, which seemed unsafe. By the time I started chemo at around 6 weeks post-surgery, I had good range of motion and was lifting up to ~12 pounds, and I was driving. I was still experiencing the "iron bra" sensation and my chest was unpleasantly sensitive to any contact, which made shirts a challenge.

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

    Shaharazad, I take protein supplements- not soy though. I think it helps. Used it all through chemo too...

    Kbeee- maybe we should count down weeks not days? Also, buy ourselves presents at the end of each week? Sooo- you are a week in! Yaaaayyyyy! only what- 5 more to go? You should tell Amazon to bring you shoes because you deserve them.

    Rainy- give yourself a day or two. I had a month between surgery and chemo, and by week 3 I was running 6 miles again. Just listen to your body. Its giant exercise just to heal the damage. But...good news is, once this is all over, you will be able to get back where you were!

    Today, my RO said to me- quit stretching so much! You are over stretching! I was like "Dude, cancer treatment put me in a desk job. I always flap my arms a lot". Not quite sure where he was going with that. He also pretty much said I won't feel like exercising during the last weeks of treatment because my skin will be too decomposed or whatever. I certainly hope my skin holds up- he definitely hasn't painted a rosy picture. I do appreciate an honest (if a bit dark and twisted) MD,though. So apparently my Rx for radiation fatigue is two cups of coffee in the afternoon and a handful of pumpkin spice m and m's. Feeling pretty awake right now!

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited September 2015

    Planning a massage at the beginning of the week, myself.

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

    Littleblue, It sounds like we're pretty much on the same plan! I just hold my arm way out when I run. I look like a bird with a broken wing, but I am pretty sure I looked pathetic already, so what's a little more patheticness???!!! I just try to keep from any chafing. I am good with a gift per week. I need new running shoes and a holder for my phone when I run, so I guess I already have 2 of them picked out! I stretch every day too and work on maintaining my range of motion. Those ROs just don't understand firefighters do they???!!!


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

    Nope kbee they dont! I got a new pair of motorcycle boots and one of those water bottle waist packs for my first and second weeks. Not sure what present I deserve this week..I need new running shoes too! Treat yo self, lady. Whatever it takes to keep the head monster at bay...

    Queenmom, you are one tough lady if you can stand the thought of being rubbed! Do they do anything special to avoid hurting you?

    Everyone is doing great! Sorry I fell down the hole yesterday- you guys pulled me through.

    1.5 hrs of cardio, abs machine at 30 lbs, gluten machine at 30, 20 girl pushups, pizza and a veggie protein smoothie for dinner..

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

    He also pretty much said I won't feel like exercising during the last weeks of treatment because my skin will be too decomposed or whatever.

    He has no idea who he's talking to.

    I exercised all the way through.

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

    two miles walking today. Not super fast, but did it.


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

    Lol ksusan sometimes I do talk like a teenager...and yr right. He's never met any of us. Maybe I haven't been projecting the appropriate air of steely resolve...an you are a badass. You just are 😊

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

    Oh, thank you all (Sloth, Raleigh, Trvler, Ksusan, little blue) SO much! Your advice/experience is just amazingly helpful. I have been walking all summer through chemo, and I know it has helped, at least with my energy level. Plan to be careful after surgery but hope just to keep putting one foot in front of the other...

    Trvler, good job getting out today.

    Raleigh, who was your surgeon? Were you pleased? I'm also at MSK, with Sacchini. Find myself a bit intimidated, and of course he hasn't done the surgery yet, so I'm basing my opinion on just a couple of meetings.

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

    Rain, are you doing reconstruction?

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

    KSusan, I would like to do reconstruction down the road. BS wants to wait until 3-6 months after rads, which as far as I can tell is next spring/summer. Will know more after meeting with him and nurse next week.

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited September 2015

    I did a mile and a half this am. No walking this pm, it is too damned hot. Back up to triple digits in the Great Central Valley. And the fires burning up the Sierra are not helping the air quality.

    First chemo infusion tomorrow. Apt. is early, 8:45 am (talk about adding insult to injury! especially since it is an hour's drive for me, or rather for hubby who will be driving, to get there...) so may skip the walk tomorrow but I am determined to be out there again Thursday. Thanks to all of you here for the inspiration and encouragement to keep walking. I am sure it will help!

    Octogirl

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