Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited January 2016

    Awwww - poor girl. I hate oral surgery.

    I wish I could read while I worked out. I get car sick.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited January 2016

    Pboi, sorry your daughter has to get surgery. You are doing great with the cardio though!

    Eileen, yeah, that's why I stairmaster. Eliptical makes me carsick. Had a work party tonight, so I only got an hour. Mostly weights. Have moved up to 15 lb dumbells. Some days I wish I had my old life back/ was normal, not a fucking ex cancer patient amputee.

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    Let the testing begin!

    Had my first set of appts yesterday with 3 Drs. I'm going to b a busy girl! Today genetic testing n blood work, tomorrow full body CT Scan, Monday breast mri, Tuesday Dana farber all day for second opinions n waiting to hear when she schedules me for full body bone scan... At least they r very proactive n building case or no case after genetic testing comes back so we know which way to move forward. And this will all be done for my spot at Dana farber.

    I really like all 3 Drs that I met yesterday at MGH. My family history has more than a few early cancers on my dads side hence the genetic testing. If it's positive, double mastectomy n chemo. If negative, lumpectomy or one mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy then they decide radiation or chemo depending on path report from those findings. No matter what I'll b on Tamoxifan every day for 5 years. Good times😁


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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited January 2016

    MLP - that all sounds very typical and thorough. I didn't have any body scans or genetic testing.

    I climbed the Space Needle this morning! I started late because I couldn't find my other sneaker (but I didn't let it derail me!), so I didn't have time for anything more than some stretches after. I think babies take more, bigger steps than I. Sigh. Patience.

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited January 2016

    Though I'd point out that climbing the Space needle is nothing to sneeze at.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited January 2016

    Great job Lynne...every step counts!

    Katy...how are you doing? Thinking of you. Are you able to get out for any walks yet? It's been raining almost non-stop here it seems...we need the rain, but I miss walking outside.

    PB

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited January 2016

    Last week I managed to walk several days. This week not so much. It is raining, and my lower back hurts. Trying to find the motivation to sneak even 5-10 minutes between showers, but not terribly successful. It's supposed to be nice tomorrow, so I may plan an outing to the beach,


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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited January 2016

    I'll get my 10K steps in today for the first time in a long while. Long walk this morning with a friend.

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited January 2016

    Subbed in the 2 year old room again. Got in my 10k steps. Starting Monday I should start logging in many miles :)

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited January 2016

    Congrats Eileen! And bonus...on the job exercise!

    PB

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited January 2016

    A rounded-down mileage report (walking, treadmill, Zumba, dancing):

    1/1: 6.0

    1/2: 7.0

    1/3: 9.0

    1/4: 6.0

    1/5: 9.0

    1/6: 5.0

    1/7: 7.0

    1/8: 6.0

    So that's just about +11 miles above what's needed thus far to make a goal of 2016 miles in a year.


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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited January 2016

    Wow ksusan...awesome! I aspire to have numbers like that. You must always be on the move!

    My goals now are much smaller than yours but everyday I hope to put in more steps than the day before. Slowly but surely I'm getting more and more steps in...working my way towards 10K steps. I had reached that goal previously but lost my old pedometer. This new one seems to count less steps as it doesn't match my treadmill distance, but I suppose it's not the actual number that counts but what really matters is that I'm doing more everyday

    PB

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited January 2016

    I agree that consistency matters! So does a feasible goal.

    I was instructed to fidget more (to reduce the risk of lymphatic pooling in my arms)--so not difficult for me! I think best while walking, so I put in a couple of miles on any teaching day walking around the classroom. I've found a Zumba instructor I like, and although it disrupts our normal dinner/social time, my wife has agreed that I should go 4 times a week, at least in winter when walking to work in the rain is unenjoyable. We joined a gym for which our insurance returns half the fee if we attend at least 8 times a month. My partner doesn't like Zumba but has found she likes tai chi; I wouldn't be going to the gym this morning, except that she has a class, so I'll treadmill for 30 minutes, then run errands nearby on foot.

    Wearing a Fitbit makes me more mindful, so I notice and get up if I've been sitting for awhile. I'm also more likely to take the stairs. Zumba makes me focus on keeping my core tight, which has improved my balance (even on Tamoxifen, which increases my vertigo) and, I think, improves how I use my arms in a way that I hope decreases LE risk.

    And, of course, remembering to turn on music and dance a little rather than standing still while cooking, cleaning, carrying laundry, etc.

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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited January 2016

    I have managed to meet my [rather modest] goals of regular something daily: yoga or stretch, dog walk or snowshoeing and even shovelling snow -- {now there's an activity gift!], but still want to kick it up a notch.... can't seem to remember to wear my step counter daily. My work is starting a biggest loser type challenge next week for 12 weeks, so I'm joining for the extra kick in the tush to lose a 'stone' 14 lb, continue to exercise more, and eat healthy and mindfully. I am heading to lake now for the weekend for more wintery nature walks and chopping wood. I bring my laptop and throw in an exercise cd too - qi gong or yoga.

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited January 2016

    The good news is: I took a page from ksusan and made a spreadsheet where I can record the info from my iPhone app (which isn't quite as accurate as a fitbit, I don't think, mostly because I sometimes forget to take it with me, but still it is convenient...

    Anyway, in week one of the year I did a total of 15.05 miles...WAY below what I would need to do to reach 2016 miles. However, the good news is that it was all walking (no biking yet, because of rain, and no swimming because not healed yet from rads...not that I will do longer distances swimming, but I like it more...and I will need the biking to reach 2016). The other good news is that this week is already up (I start the week on Sunday, and have done 3.2 miles already today. So, going to keep the 2016 goal at 2016 miles total at least for a while to see if I can do it. I do have a LOT more energy today than any day since the first of the year (which could be because rads is over, or could be because I am just moving more, or both...)

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited January 2016

    Ksusan, in what manner do you fidget? Wiggle fingers? Tap a pencil? Wave your arms?

    Good work, phoebe! What things are you going to do as part of your work challenge?

    Octo, wow. I wish I was a better swimmer, but I'm afraid of monsters. I wanted to share a hair story here: when my hair started to grow in, the first time I noticed it, I thought it was dirt. I blamed my cat, who likes to sleep on my head. Nope! It was baby hair! And now, 6 mos, 4 haircuts, 2 dye jobs and a radical bleach job later....I look like Einstein. FAshion Fail. But still- tons of hair!

    I been sick wid a cold in by dose. Took Julie puppy out Xc skiing today and she may have found her niche as a skijoring dog, though!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited January 2016

    Mostly I squirm and shift position, but I do flex my fingers/hands more now to drive the lymph back from the periphery.

    Sorry you had a cold. I was indignant when I got one--haven't we been through enough?!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited January 2016

    I can't remember if it was on this forum or the March chemo forum where we talked about compression type shirts. They are really called base layers. I finally found one with long sleeves, pictures below. Hopefully you can see the ridges, etc. that aid in compression. It has some ridges, etc. on the lower arm part too. It is made by Assos. The box shows men wearing it, but it is unisex, and feels great on. I got size 2 which is large/extra large. I think it comes in different weights for different seasons. But it was pricey, retails for $159 and I found it for $109.


    image


    image


    image

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited January 2016

    Jack reporting in on his wellbeing

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited January 2016

    Aww...missed seeing pics of Jack. Glad you got out to the beach Katy!

    Have been doing well with getting my exercise in during the week days when the kids are at school. But when they are home on the weekends I slack off. I would include them in exercise, but not so feasible with the rainy/cold weather outside these days. Need some incentive or something to motivate myself on the weekends. Actually probably my laziness or million excuses...just need to buckle down and do it...lol!

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited January 2016

    PB- motivation is a weak area for me. Just don't have much and the less i dothe more it hurts to try.

    But seeing him run in the beach always makes me feel better.

    I'm sure things will get better as the weather improves. For both of us!

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  • erina1986
    erina1986 Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2016

    Has anyone tried the apple watch to monitor exercise? I was wondering if that would be a good device to stay motivated. There is probably a good app that keeps track of exercise over time.

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited January 2016

    I use a fit bit. It doesn't especially motivate me to do more but makes me excited when I've done a lot.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited January 2016

    Jack! We should all run on the beach.

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited January 2016

    I want to run with Jack

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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited January 2016

    Katy, so lovely to see Jack zipping about:) thanks for the warm fuzzies! And Octogirl, glad your energy is returning and a huge congrats on finishing rads:))))) Littleblue, the work challenge starts with everyone interested putting in $20. We all get weighed and waist measured on day 1 [Thurs] privately by the nurse on site, and then we are randomly divided into teams. For 12 weeks we encourage and inspire each other and share nutrition and exercise tips. At the end, we are reweighed and measured and given points per % lost and shrinkage of waist April 7. Overall solo winner gets half the $, and winning team divides other half. I don't have a whole lot to lose, but am over the healthy BMI, and want to improve my fitness again too. I've noticed my radiated breast is already swelling and it's only day 4 of 28, so hope that doesn't become an impediment. Nurse said just swelling from irritated tissue [like a sprained ankle], and so I am sure hoping it ain't breast lymphedema...... I'm moving my arms a lot and fidgeting just in case Ksusan!


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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited January 2016

    Phoebe, that sounds fun! I wish my work would do something like that...hmmm...

    Jack is adorable!

    Eileen- two year olds???? Your energy is amazing!

    Ok today I still felt pretty crappy, but I got an hour of cardio and 20 minutes of abs and weights. And some high quality fidgeting. And some brownies. Darn.


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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited January 2016

    I feel non-excellent today so after a very full work day, I did my Zumba low impact. And now I'm going to sleep at 8:30 PM.

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited January 2016

    Continuing to do over 10k steps (95% of it at work). Once I get used to working again (2.5 YEARS unemployed) I need to do strength training. I used to have really buff arms/back/shoulders - now I have grandma arms. I think next week I will add that to my schedule. Totally not used to getting up at 5:30, definitely in the adjustment phase.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited January 2016

    I went climbing yesterday- such a good work out.

    Ran 5 miles tonight.

    Think it's probably time to suck it up and join cross fit...

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