Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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

    PB, everything counts!

    Yesterday I ate probably too many nuts and dried fruits, but in and of themselves, my choices were fine.

    Currently eating:

    • 1 large apple, cubed
    • T large walnut pieces
    • T golden raisins
    • sprinkle Penzeys China cinnamon
    • Sprinkle Penzeys sweetened ginger bits
    • T unrefined virgin coconut oil

    Mix, microwave for a minute, stir, microwave for another minute. Still crispy, but cooked enough to feel like you're eating a dish rather than a pile of ingredients.

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

    ksusan I'm gonna make that for dessert tonight! Or maybe dinner....because apparently my new post anxiety reaction is to eat enchiladas and smoke pot. Gah sometimes I'm such a teenager. Either way, 2 hrs cardio today, new skin massage regime, and abs. Lots and lots of abs.

    Is anyone here on Lexapro by chance? If so, do you feel like it makes you hyper rather than less anxious? Wondering if its all in my head, but it sure seems like that stuff makes me spazz out like caffeine.... Thanks!

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

    I guess there are worse ways to go with it. As you know, Oregon has legal marijuana now, and the proliferation of weed shops is quite something. Also: Enchiladas.

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

    pboi, ! It all counts. My osteopath said look, walking an hour a day is the most natural thing you can do for your body. If people did that, it is all most people need

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

    I've been traveling for work, which sometimes gets in the way of exercise, but not this trip. First of all, I spent Saturday at my Dear Granddaughter's birthday party: hanging out with a bunch of 8 year olds is a great way to get in a bunch of steps, not to mention a few swings at the Piñata. My granddaughter, she of the zero filter, said as she watched me take the swings in front of a bunch of strangers, since most of the kids' parents were hanging around, " That's pretty impressive for a sixty two year old" Ha!

    Then from Sunday on I've been at a conference at a University where all the meeting rooms seem to be a half mile apart....and the hotel nearby where we are staying is on the beach. Did a 2.5 mile beach walk this afternoon! I have avoided the pool which is filled with loud, happy families on spring break (fortunately my room faces the beach and away from the pool!)

    It all counts, definitely

    Octogirl

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  • Jonsey22
    Jonsey22 Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2016

    Green smoothie done!

    An hour of data compiling done!

    Getting on the treadmill to walk/jog for 35 min and watch Scandal on Netflix (best part of my day).

    Then off to Look Good Feel Better session. Hope I don't shed on the presenters lol.

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

    Jonesy- please be careful and check the product they give you at LGFB. I was dismayed to learn most of the products in my goodie bag had known carcinogens and/or endocrine distpruptors, which can interfere with the effectiveness of Tamoxifen, in them.

    http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/past-campaigns/poiso...

    The above will break your heart. You can check individual products at this site (independent researcher/verifier of over 60,000 personal care products) here:

    http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

    Take care



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

    American Cancer Society Giving Cancer Causing

    The above links toanother recent article on the above topic if anyone is interested:


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  • Jonsey22
    Jonsey22 Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2016

    Thanks Jackbirdie. I am not much of a makeup wearer but I obviously need to figure out what (if any) products I could use. Any resources about other ingredients to avoid would be helpful. The articles you linked to listed some for sure.


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

    Soaps, perfume, household cleaning products, sunscreens, moisturizers, and shampoo and other hair products, and nail polish/products should all be checked out. A good rule of thumb is anytime "fragrance" is on a label, beware. Companies are not required by law to disclose what is in "fragrance", and it is often petroleum-based, and toxic. Apparently they are allowed to get away with it under "trade secret" laws. Efforts are underway to make changes, but there are big lobbies, funded by big cosmetics and household products companies, opposing any limitations on using dangerous substances, even just completely disclosing ingredients on their labels. It seems like they are using the cigarette company playbook, and will deny and resist until there is a groundswell of public determination.

    A striking fact us that European Union countries have banned over 1200 products deemed unsafe to use, and our FDA has banned 12. No major changes, testing, or advisories in thus market gave occurred since the 1930-40's.


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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    Thanks for that reminder Katy about our products. Slowly I'm trying to change the products we use in our home? But just 12 banned by the FDA? Ugh!!! Really?! Is there even hope for protecting ourselves? I mean I can use a "safer" soap when I wash my hands at home, but when I go out, who knows what soap others buy? Feels like an uphill battle.

    Got to do the best we can with what we know I guess...frustrating!

    PB



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

    Other than parabens, I am using a strategy of replacing products as they're used up, or (with unopened products) giving them to local shelters where presumably people have bigger issues at that moment. I'm now using

    • Delore for Nails Organic Nail Hardener and Nail Polish Dryer
    • Tom's of Maine Toothpaste
    • Baking Soda
    • Epsom Salts
    • Burt's Bees Lemon Body & Bath Oil
    • Desert Essence Tea Tree Replenishing Shampoo
    • Kiss My Face Olive Oil Bar Soap
    • NOW Solutions Shea Butter
    • Coconut Oil (of course)
    • Weleda Baby & Child Calendula Body Lotion (using it up)
    • Boiron Calendula Cream
    • Alba Botanica Hawaiian Body Cream, Deep Moisturizing Kukui Nut (it gets a 5, but not for carcinogens and I'm using it up; trying to find a body butter I like the smell of; my favorite Body Shop Olive Oil body butter has parabens)

    • Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant (paraben-free, no longer contains Triclosan)
    • Some random "crystal" deodorant
    • Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, Fragrance Free, SPF 15
    • Garden Goddess sunscreen SPF 30
    • Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturizer, SPF 30
    • Burt's Bees Eucalyptus Lip Balm
    • Badger Sunscreen Lip Balm, SPF 15
    • Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Solution For Nails
    • Oxy-5
    • Tea Tree Oil
    • Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap, Honeysuckle
    • Various Mrs. Meyer's household cleansers


    Looking for recommendations:

    • Eucalyptus body wash
    • Bubble bath with a neutral or herbal scent
    • Tea tree scalp and face wash

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited March 2016

    The skin deep website is very interesting, Jackbirdie! Thanks for posting the link. I like how it rates the hazard in different categories, like cancer, reproductive, etc. I need to ditch anything that has a high cancer risk; not so worried about reproductive at my age :)

    I rarely use soap, and I manage to stay very clean and healthy. There are a lot of good bacteria on our skin - no need to wash them away as frequently as we do. I will use soap on hands and feet after working outside or hiking, but that's about it, except for shampoo every 2nd or 3rd day. Just gently rubbing our skin with a clean soft cloth is almost always adequate, in my opinion.

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  • azrescue
    azrescue Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2016

    Back from my second treatment. Feeling tired and achy but was able to get out for a 2 mile walk today. One mile on my own & second mile with my 5 yr old in the stroller.

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

    Good work, Az. Keep drinking plenty of water!

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited March 2016

    After rad treatment #24 I got in a great 12 mile hike on a local trail. Lots of wildflowers! My favorite was a hillside covered with purple owl's clover amid a sea of white popcorn flowers. Lots of elevation gain, so a good leg workout. It was perfect spring weather!

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

    Sounds lovely, Moondust!

    For dinner I had a bowl of beets, a bowl of fruit, a cookie, and water, so while not a failure, it is not a rousing success, either.

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

    At a dance, I ate some Skittles. Delicious.

    Date Miles Zumba
    3/20 5.62 -
    3/21 5.60 X
    3/22 7.49 XX
    3/23 5.50 X
    3/24 7.50 XX
    3/25 5.51 -
    3/26 5.50 -

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

    just dance a little extra and you will wear those Skittles off!

    Found out I have slight osteopenia, now have to work on building bone mass. Ugh

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

    I'm sorry. Low weights, many reps?

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

    yes, gonna add that, and bumped up my hiking and walking. Playing around with trying to jog some, which is my least favorite thing in the world. And going to start tennis again

    Have to do more research on dealing with bones issues, I am completely clueless. Oncologist wants me to do Prolia, but having read all the side effects, it scares me.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    Good work ksusan. With all that mileage I'm sure you've worked off the Skittles!

    Worked my way up to 4 miles yesterday. I enjoy walking and dislike jogging/running but am thinking of starting. It's very time consuming to increase miles while walking...could cut down my time a little if I ran! I did add using 2 lb hand weights while walking this week but definitely need to work on adding a strength training routine. Maybe next week...not feeling up to change right now, woke up with a bad sore throat this morning...ugh!

    I was once an avid tennis player and would love to start playing again and teaching my kids. Worried if can do it and if it would trigger lymphedema. Anyone know?

    The whole Zometa/Prolia side effects scare the crap out of me too! But I need to keep my bones strong, hope that these drugs can provide some protection for my bones and keep my fingers crossed that I don't get any side effects, and from what I've seen most people don't get the really bad side effects

    Happy Easter to those who celebrate today

    PB


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

    One key to decreasing LE risk seems to be work up slowly, starting with low resistance and low reps, increasing reps, moving up resistance and decreasing reps, etc. I've been told to stretch and do MLD before exercise and MLD after, and stay highly hydrated.

    I have eaten a smallish locally-produced non-dairy solid dark chocolate bunny. Ears first, of course. I am sure there are jelly beans and a mimosa in my future. Possibly polenta.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    Thanks ksusan!

    Yay for having a bunny today! Now how many miles to work off a small bunny? 😊 Think I'll let my kids have a bunny too today, but not Peeps or Cadbury eggs our family is not a fan. We are chocoholics in this house.

    Anyone else want to share their favorite Easter/spring candy?

    PB

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

    Ksusan- I was relieved to hear it was ears first.

    image

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

    :)

    Easter potluck brunch concluded with not too much damage to my diet while still having a relaxed time. Off for a long walk now.

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

    Ah, I feel refreshed by a ~7 mile walk.

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

    85 miles bike riding, 5 miles hiking, and 12 miles walking this week, so not a bad week. At my peak during chemo I was riding about 128 miles per week, how did I ever do that

    Must build bone density....

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

    Good stuff, T.

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  • azrescue
    azrescue Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2016

    you all amaze & inspire me. My last two days have been very exhausting. Just going downstairs leaves me completely winded. Which is not good because then it triggers anxiety. It's like my brain thinks it needs to panic. I thought I could keep up the walking everyday. How do you do it?

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