Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

slothabouttown - My LE is in my arm, but I notice the swelling after chemo in both my arm and surgery-side breast . I just did #2 of 4 TC sessions. I've gone 2 days without my sleeve with no problems. (My surgeon said I don't need it and the newly-trained-not-very-helpful-LE-guy said to wear it 8 hrs a day, so I'm compromising). I looked on the internet for stretches and brushing/emptying lymph glands and passages, and I figure gently doing that couldn't hurt. I'm taking my son back to college today, but I'm going to look for a specialist when I get back.

I read an article where they did a study and 100% of the surgeons said zero of their patients had lymphedema... which the study noted was statistically impossible and suggested many surgeons are in denial. Go figure.

1 hour spin class and some weight lifting. Gotta test that surgery arm.

Sorry Karen you are tired. Hang in there, you are about halfway through? Remember, it's like radiation poisoning during treatment, then you get past it.

Eileen, I so understand about the TE hurting. I have them on both sides, and hsve for 5 months. They hurt ALOT! My back is hurting so much I am not able to do much exercise these days. Exchange is in 9 days and I sure hope that helps!

Sunshine: 5 MONTHS??? Eeeek! I'm only 3 weeks post surgery. I can't imagine 5 months. I'm not getting a lot of fills - I had my remaining boob smallered to avoid much filling. I'm little (4'11) I feel like I'm good w Bs instead of the past Cs. My daughters are both Ds (well one a DD). I just don't want them for as short as possible.

Little blue: watching the debates. More than one glass - but I got lots of exercise - 700 steps short of 10k. Might walk to the freezer for ice cream to bump those numbers up!

Currently doing 50 minutes daily on the XL Glider and 10 minutes stretching exercises. Got to start back on lifting light weights for the arms. Took off doing that due to masectomy in July. Definately feel better physically since getting back into a daily exercise regimen. Started on Anastrozole and so far have not had any aches or pains in my joints, my Onc said probably due to my daily exercising.

Day 8 post chemo one, and I can taste again, sort of!! Woohoo! Bring on that food porn! I had roasted organic local veggies from my CSA box last night (sweet potatoes, red potatoes, leeks, carrots) topped with two fried eggs, and it actually tasted good. Went nicely with the cool weather. Didn't even need AC yesterday. Sadly, temps supposed to go back up this weekend....

Feeling good enough, and it is cool enough here in the Great Central Valley, that a walk is in order.

Had one week post chemo check up with MO yesterday, as well as a check in with BS to look at the suture-that-doesn't-want-to heal. Good news all around: bs is very happy with my suture and says actually it is almost healed. I did have some bleeding yesterday am before I saw her which sent me straight to the edge of CT, but she told me that it was nothing to worry about, that the bleeding was clean and just 'overenthusiastic healing'. Oaakaayyy...but I trust her, so if it works for her it works for me. MO apt also went well, he confirmed my suspicion that I am having an easier time than most, and he and I both credit the exercise and advise to stay active I got both from him and on these boards, for a lot of that. WBC is 'perfect, in fact boringly so' according to MO (I'll take it), and he cleared me to go on a east coast trip I have planned for work a week after Chemo two. (fits in with his philosophy of trying to live as normal a life as possible). Have to say, I've had some issues with some (ok with one in particular) of his staff, but he dealt with those issues quite well when I raised them, and while they gave me pause at first, he is growing on me. Since I already love my bs, that means that I feel blessed to find providers I am comfortable with here in an area that is hugely medically underserved and where finding good health care can be a challenge.

Off to walk and then to work. I hope the crazies stay out of CT today and that all have a great day!

EDITED TO ADD: Ok, just realized I am confusing two different threads. Hope you all get good exercise, CT is for another board. But you knew what I meant, I suspect...

Octogirl

Octogirl- happy to hear that you're doing well with the chemo and that food is tasting good! I ate a lot of eggs too during chemo, poached on top of arugula salad or pizza, fried and plopped on an avocado, they were just something that never tasted weird to me and an easy protein.

Icfree welcome here, not sure I've seen you post before or said hello.

I had MLD last night for the first time in over a month and my therapist said I'm maintaining well. I can sure tell a difference after a treatment, even when I think I feel great prior to going.

I was telling her about this exercise thread and my struggles to walk more ( I can do about 2 miles a day but can't make myself do more than that despite walking apps, audio books, podcasts, music, etc.) Anyway now I've convinced myself that if I had a treadmill I could do desk work or read or watch tv while I walk and combine that with my two mile neighborhood route. Just so happens therapist had a really nice treadmill gathering dust and she gave it to me! Now I just need some help moving it in and I can get to walking. I really want to make this work, the treadmill seems to be a good piece of equipment for a number of you, hope I didn't just inherit a 300 pound clothes rack!

sloth, with exercise equipment use, it is all about location. We have a life fitness elliptical cross trainer and a keiser spin bike, and they are in my family room next to the couch in front of the TV. Yeah, we are eccentric. But they get used a lot because of where they are. Initially I tried putting them in an extra bedroom, but they didn't get used as much. My daughter has her treadmill in her garage, and it very rarely gets used. So proper placement helps from it becoming a clothes line.

And my formal dining room got turned into the grandbabies play room, so no house beautiful here. Just lots of space that actually gets used every day.

I hate treadmills (find them boring) but I have an elliptical I use. I have been doing that very slowly per doctors instructions. I am up to 35 min/day.

Lisa: I vote no walk. Let your body rest.

I agree. Rest! You can walk many other days!

I think walk too, but don't get more than about 5-10 minutes from your house in case you fade. They get open heart surgery patients up moving almost immediately, and that must be a brutal surgery

I rode my bike two days after lumpectomy for 22 miles, but I'm crazy that way. My thought has always been get the machine pumping to clear out toxins. Freaked out my surgeon though. I also rode day after port placement. Slow though, was afraid I would look down and see blood gushing out of my chest lol. But I was used to lots of exercise, so maybe my body handled it better.

So, in that case a walk was a wonderful idea.