Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

6feetover · January 2016

all: Here's to a happy and "big C"-free 2016!!! Love you ladies!!!

littleblueflowers · January 2016

Katy and Av, fellow flat sister here. Katy, your hospital is spamming you for mammograms???? Mine sent me a chemo teach video last week. Charming. Never had a mammogram, and I guess I never will.

Ksusan, I'm so glad your MO isn't worried.

2015- begone. And take cancer with you, never to return.

avmom · January 2016

Wow, autotype is terrible. I was in a bit of a rush, and my last post is practically unintelligible. I'll check more carefully in the future, but I was on my way out and wanted to get a post off.

Had dinner at the local community hall, put on by the Hall Bowrd and the Library Board. Nice, small event (maybe 50-60 people, and you know virtually all of them) so it was a nice chance to visit and catch up with some folks you don't see that often. I haven't been out in the world much this year so it was good to see many of them. Home before 11 - way past my bedtime.

Here's to a better 2016 for everyone.

octogirl · January 2016

Today's exercise: a 3 mile walk, and a few minutes snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean, on a day when the water (56F) was warmer than the air (air temp was about about 45F by the time I got in the water). I wore a drysuit, so add getting the drysuit on and off to my exercise, not to mention having to crawl out of the water when I ran into more surge than expected. It felt GREAT, all of it. Happy New Year to all.

Octogirl

queenmomcat · January 2016

HURRAH! FOR SNORKELING!

ksusan · January 2016

12/29: 6.85 (steps, Zumba, stretches x2, 100 bicep curls, rotator cuff exercises, 10 reclined triceps extension, 50 dead bugs)

12/30: 4.75 miles (steps, Zumba, stretches x2 rotator cuff exercises, 10 reclined triceps extension, 50 dead bugs)

12/31: 2.0 miles (steps, stretches, rotator cuff exercises)

2015 grand total being calculated....

***

Aiming for 2016 miles in steps, dance, rowing, elliptical, similar in 2016. I probably can't, but it will amuse me to try.

1/1: 6.0 miles + stretches, rotator cuff, reclined tricep

octogirl · January 2016

Ok, ksusan, you are on. I decided I needed a goal of my own. I don't know if I can do it, in fact it seems rather unlikely, but I certainly can try. My goal will be 2016 miles in any combination of walking and hiking, swimming and biking. Will have to find out the length of the gym pool (once I am cleared for swimming, which better be soon, as I am past ready...presumably will be fine once done with rads at the end of next week.).

Adding biking makes it more potentially doable even though this winter likely won't be much for biking with El Nino (I enjoy road biking but am not a fan of indoor gym biking. Treadmill walking I can stand if need be, and there is always the mall).

Out to hike at one of our National Parks today....

Octogirl

octogirl · January 2016

By the way: don't forget it is a leap year. One extra day to do all of this! :-)

ksusan · January 2016

I was thinking about that leap day last night

Italychick · January 2016

my goal for 2016 is more diversity in my exercise, maybe breaking the 3,023 miles I did in 2015 on my bike, and to not get cancer back or stitches! I did do a lot of hiking and walking and spin class workouts in 2015 but I've been too lazy to track those miles. Guess I need to investigate the iPhone apps for those activities. My main problem is since supposedly we are having a wet winter, I see more indoor spin classes in my winter months and since the bike is stationary I don't know how to track those miles except manually

ksusan · January 2016

A Fitbit (Garmin, etc.) that tracks your motion rather than your position might register them. Or yes, add them manually (that's what I did for rowing and would do for swimming). Fortunately, Zumba registers as steps!

MLP3 · January 2016

Just diagnosed with IDC grade 3 and a small area of dcis after core biopsy. ERPR+ and HER2-. I meet with 3 Drs back to back 1/6. Med onc, bs and radiologist onc.

I'm 48 and very much into staying active. That's what's so hard about this. Since I felt this lump about 3-4 weeks ago, this process has me up at night and just too tired to exercise during the day. Prior to, I spin, take semi private conditioning classes, downhill and XC ski and I hike... A lot. I'm also 6 months vegan. But I've turned to googling everything I can get my hands on and the turning to comfort vegan food and I'm so upset I've let myself go a bit. I have hiked and skied this past week and it's made me feel so empowering. But that was up to my call on the 30th confirming my dx. And now I have the first nasty cold that I've had in a year. I think it's due to stress and lack of sleep. So I'm in pjs drinking teas and immune boosting juices😁

Were any of you able to workout during treatments? I have no idea what path I will be taking... Chemo, surgery, hormones... I do know that they are scheduling me right away for sentinel node and lumpectomy/excisional biopsy and scans.

Am I looking at no exercise for a while? I do feel that once a plan is in place, so will my diet be. I'm planning on juicing a lot and maybe going raw during the day and sensible at night. Thanks for any and all advice!

phoebe58 · January 2016

Happy 2016 everyone, I had popped in last fall, but ended up stumbling on that road to hell paved with good intentions [looks remarkably like that heaved highway pic]. Your group is so inspiring and at times downright hilarious -- ok, except your poor war wound Italychick - ouch:, and yes that huge # of climbing is a LOT ( Love that beachy pic too Jackbirdie - I could just melt into it.)

My problem is consistency, and lack of planning [thanks trvler], so I am adding a goal of my own to yours Ksusan and octogirl. While I personally break out in hives tracking all those little numbers all the time, I can manage to do simple adding on a calendar, so I commit to 273 days of planned activity in 2016 -- that is 3/4 or 75% of the time. That breaks down to at least 5 days a week, and 22 days a month. In winter that means snowshoeing, easy hiking, or xc skiing outdoors or when too cold [-20 this morning] go to the indoor university track power walking and some machines. Come summery weather I enjoy outdoor walking, biking, and swimming, kayaking or paddle boarding at the lake, and all year I can step up my yoga or classical stretch dvd frequency . I have been pretty good at that as I've been working on regaining full ROM and strength post-diep, and want to keep that shoulder flexible as I start rads on Monday.

"Somehow" I put on 5 lb over the holidays...... so back to healthier eating too. Made bean soup yesterday.

phoebe58 · January 2016

posts crossed -- I might finally consider a fitbit as my step counter is too persnickety ... and I like the idea of diversity with workouts italychick. MLP sorry to hear of your diagnosis -- it threw me off initially too, but then I got in the groove. While not as active as you, although some are here, keeping up some form of exercise [though maybe gentler] is very doable most of the time, and helpful.

ksusan · January 2016

Whatever works!

MLP3, welcome. Many of us continued with light to moderate exercise through treatment and found it reduced stress as well as helping us stay healthy. IMHO, the really important considerations are

Don't exercise for some period after surgery to allow your lymph system to heal (for example, I didn't lift my arms or anything of any weight for a couple of weeks after surgery, but I did walk on a very slow treadmill starting a few days after, and I didn't do any weights until cleared by a PT/LET).
Stay hydrated!
Stay alert to the possibility of developing or exacerbating lymphedema and take steps to reduce your risk.

slothabouttown · January 2016

MLP3,

What Susan said. Your post resonated with me because one year ago I was dealing with the lump, the appointments, the stress, and then a nasty cold on top of everything else!

This site offers a wealth of support for staying healthy during treatment and diet is a huge part of that. All the repair work our bodies are forced to undertake after surgery and during chemo and rads requires ample protein and nutritional support. There are some good vegan protein supplements that can get you up to the recommended daily amount ( during rads we were supposed to try to get 60 grams of protein daily!)

Exercise, when you can add it, makes everything easier. I believe it reduces side effects, relieves stress and can help pull you up from dark and scary thoughts brought on by Google and all those tests and appointments. You're already in a good place since you are an active person. Most of the women in my chemo group were able to continue exercising, some with a modified version of their "normal" routine and others with no change or even more activity.

One thing I would recommend is to not add stress over exercise and weight to the stress of diagnosis and treatment. If you don't always feel like working out that's okay, same with a strict diet- some days the benefit of treating yourself to what tastes good wins out! This is a great thread for motivation and support, and also for remembering to enjoy good food, friends and relaxing activities along the way.

Italychick · January 2016

so here's my two cents, but I'm stubborn. I didn't want cancer to alter my life any more than I had to. So I did what I could, even if it meant giving up a day of riding for a leisurely walk. Just stay active, I really think it helps with side effects. I never had nausea, took no anti-nausea stuff, ate normal even if I couldn't taste food, and I really think the minimal side effects I had were minimized by staying active. But some days you just won't feel like it. Also, on down days, I would go and do a spin class or exercise bike at the gym, and if I had to do it on level 1, so be it. I think the important thing is to stay moving, don't worry so much about the intensity part. After some of the chemo infusions, I felt like my legs were encased in concrete and minimal exercise was all I could do.

And magnesium is a wonder substance for constipation, never took any laxatives but that. And coconut oil works on everything, mouth sores, infected hair follicles, the vaginal area, and any rashes that come up. It really helped my butthole too. I rubbed coconut oil on my gums all the time and never got any mouth sores.

mLP3, I learned that some light exercise was invaluable when I was fatigued, it energized me. Even a walk, never discount how important just walking is, bone density building, etc.

The most important thing that kept me moving was having a few people to be there with me through all exercise to keep me going. So find a friend or two or husband or wife that will commit to you through everything. That helps tremendously.

And if you don't do something for a few days, don't beat yourself up. We have enough negativity through this process without being our own enemy.

MLP3 · January 2016

You guys are great! Thank you😘

I think this cold isn't helping... Gorgeous day at our NH vacation home and I just want to be in the woods. But I feel like absolute crap and my body is telling me to rest up so I can be healthy heading into my appt on Wednesday. Hopefully I feel better tomorrow and I can get some fresh air in these lungs and flush out this cold!

I did get a reiki treatment a few days ago and it was awesome! It was like a healing nap. I highly recommend for everyone here!

eheinrich · January 2016

ok I dusted off and plugged in my Fitbit. Going to take a long walk w a friend later. My exercise motivation is usually hovering around zilch. Definitely need to fix that this year.

pboi · January 2016

Welcome MLP3!

Wow ksusan and octogirl 2016 miles, that sounds like such a big number, but I'll be cheering you both on. Your goals have me thinking about a mileage goal for myself too...hmm. But my motivation is not as great as yours...wish it was...baby steps for me. Right now just trying to work on increasing mileage/steps daily and adding weightsand will go from there. So far been walking every day this year...gonna try to keep that up...lol!

PB

eheinrich · January 2016

2016 is ~5.5 miles a day or 10k-ish steps for those of you with regular sized legs (I'm just shy of 5ft and 10k steps for me is 3.86 mi). Maybe I need to set a very concrete goal to help me along - exercising more is too vague & unhelpful for me. I'm going to think on that.

ksusan · January 2016

I find it helpful to make a spreadsheet for each month, then make notes on a paper copy, like this:

ksusan · January 2016

Let's try again! I find it helpful to make a spreadsheet, print it out, and fill in/check off at the end of the day. I will take a photo after a few days and try to post it.

Italychick · January 2016

ooh a spreadsheet! The geek in me just got excited, I love spreadsheets!

pboi · January 2016

5.5 miles/day doesn't sound too bad. Though if you miss a day that's potentially 11 mi for the next day to catch up on. I'm aiming for 10k steps a day, which is about 4 mi for me. Realistically I'm not going to make that goal every day, so I'm aiming for a total of 90 mi for the month of January and see how that goes.

Spreadsheet I love it!!! I love being organized when I can. I've just been using a notebook. Post it when you can ksusan...thx!

PB

octogirl · January 2016

I was just thinking that a spreadsheet would be helpful for me.

ksusan · January 2016

I am joining the Oregon Duck in marking each Oregon touchdown with exercise--though the Duck does pushups up to each current score total and I'm doing dead bugs. In the first half, I've done 101 (7, 14, 21, 28, 31).

Trvler · January 2016

MLP: As everyone here knows, I did Jazzercise thought my treatments and I had been averaging 3x a week and by the end I was averaging about 6. I found it made me feel better and the lovely ladies at Jazzercise surrounded me with support the entire time. They even made meals for me after my surgery. I don't tell anyone to START exercising who isn't already but don't stop unless you have to.

Avmom: Thanks for the chuckle at you unbuttoning your top every time you enter an office building. It reminded me of how, during the time I was breastfeeding, I would periodically feel myself up to see how much milk I had. (I often went braless around the house since I had implants and didn't really need one anyway.) One day, I was out in front of our town home walking to the car and I absentmindedly put my hand to my breast to check to see if I was full.

littleblueflowers · January 2016

Hi MLP! What everyone else said on the excercise front. Honestly, you may not lose much fitness during treatment if you keep active. You probably won't be able to increase your fitness, but you might. It depends on your treatment. Just be kind to yourself and hang out with us...we can get you through anything!

Xc skied today teaching the puppy how to be a snow dog lol. Has anyone else experienced tightness in their chests that kind of feels like bronchitis, but without the lung involvement, if that makes sense? Stretching and excercise help, no cough or shortness of breath. I'm seeing my MO monday...can anyone keep me out of Crazy town until then? No offence, I love crazy town.

ksusan · January 2016

Yeah, since radiation.

ETA: And I was forewarned.

Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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