Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • runaway
    runaway Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2016

    OMG italychick thanks! You just MADE MY DAY! I measure my output and it's increased up to 95% of my baseline, but that last 5% just isn't coming. And it's the 5% that makes me able to cycle with the group I usually cycle with. So I'm really happy there's hope! Seriously, you don't know how much you just made my day!

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

    runaway just hang in there. It comes back. I got what I think is the stomach flu halfway through my ride yesterday, doubled over with stomach cramps, that was really not fun. Been laying around all day, hope it subsides soon.

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    I've been taking it easy for the last couple of days. I've found that if I push too much when I'm at the low point, I end up worse. So, I'm giving myself permission to relax and take it easy (which is not something I do well *sigh* ). I will do a dog walk today. I've been averaging a mile, and that feels good, so I'm happy right now.

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  • runaway
    runaway Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2016

    italychick- sorry to hear that! Sounds miserable- I hope it does go away. I get a lot of really bad joint pain from the herceptin too- especially worse after weight lifting. Did that happen to you at all? I find that I literally take percocet so I can ride my bike half the time. I told my doctor, she didn't seem too worried, but I sure hope that doesn't continue when the herceptin is done. I've never had anything like that before, but she said it could also be the tamoxifen... which would be ten years of pain. yikes.

    CJsharma- I know! it's so hard to rest sometimes but I also sometimes find that if I don't, nothing actually ever gets better....

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    Italy - sorry - missed your post about the ride. Hope you feel better.

    Runaway - you're right - it's really a balance. I'm thinking I'll get through the work day and maybe lift then. If I'm beat at night, that's fine. I just need to be focused during the day. It's just my weakest days that I need to relax and not push. But I don't always know when those will be until mid way through.

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

    Walking is great. As Ksusan says, everything counts.

    Better today and happy about it

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  • runaway
    runaway Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2016

    yes, it's really weird how some days I feel perfectly fine and other days I have terrible pain (bone, abdominal either one). There's no real rhyme or reason to it. Some days it's a major accomplishment just to stay off the couch after work, even if I'm not really exercising. I try to consider my exercise as part of my treatment. I feel very committed to at least an hour a day, but sometimes I just need a big couch/movie/snack session. I'm glad you're feeling better italychick!

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

    I turned a guest room into my sanctuary. Bed, tv, fan. Yesterday I did a marathon watching shows I had recorded, it was awesome! Sometimes we need a lazy day

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

    I'm doing two weeks of reduced activity prior to walking a half-marathon. I'm using it as time to increase my balance ball and free weight activities. I want my knee to be in great shape for 13.1 miles!

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    KSusan - Nice way to taper!! Your knees will thank you!

    Italy - yes, sometimes we need a lazy day. You sanctuary sounds awesome. I really want to redo my back yard and make it an oasis.

    There is a 5k in my neighborhood (literally 1/2 a mile walk from my house) on May 14th. I'm thinking about signing up for it. It's on the Saturday after my last round of AC. I'm usually peppy on Saturdays, so I should be fine.

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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited April 2016

    well, I haven't been posting here lately as I feel I have turned into a fraud .... what would be a good animal comparison??? sloth? sea cucumber?..... during rads and after, and my exercise plans had evaporated beyond easy dog walks and ongoing stretches. sigh. My lazy day became the norm. Now feeling my body composition has changed - less muscle, more fat, and with Letrozole the fight to lose or even maintain weight is so much tougher. So while I am re-motivated by health reasons, frankly it is currently more by vanity and practicality -- most of my spring wardrobe of capris etc are tight or unwearable. I had laughed and snorted [3 calories] at the zumba comparison pics -- used to zumba and felt that way exactly, but imagine I looked more like Elaine dancing on Seinfeld. Still it was great fun. Anyways you gals did inspire me to join up for a Wed eve class that starts this coming week!!! Thanks:)

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    YAY Phoebe! Way to go! Welcome back. It's tough to workout when you simply feel like crap.

    I've been working out - did a few of the 21 Day Fix workouts. But Tuesday and Wednesday were bad for me, so I did nothing. Thursday I did a metabolic conditioning workout and Saturday was a 4 mile dog walk. Today I did a 1.5 mile walk and I'm sitting on my butt in my workout clothes trying to figure out with weight workout to do. I'll figure it out eventually and do it. :p

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

    Past two days at Disneyland and California adventure, definitely got my walking in!


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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited April 2016

    Well, rats. My Dexascan came back under the normal range. The nurse who called said I was osteopenic, but she did not tell me how far under normal my scan showed. When I go to my next appt I will ask for a copy of my results. Hopefully I am just under the limit and not any worse. Since I do lots of weight bearing, weight lifting, and eat a very healthy diet, including lots of calcium from yogurt and almond milk, I am asking myself what I can improve upon. I have maybe 2 diet sodas per week, and I could cut those out. I've never had my Vit D levels tested, so I'll get that done too, and take more Vit D if necessary. I do drink a lot of caffeine, so there is room for improvement there, but I loves my caffeine Salt is also supposed to be a culprit, so I could try to cut down in that area too, but I do not eat much processed food.

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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited April 2016

    I had great fun at Zumba tonight -- AKA Elaine goes to Zumba! Now I seem to have a hankering for salsa, chips and a margarita but holding strong! Otherwise have been mowing the lawn, walking the dog, stretching, and a bit of strength exercise.

    That sucks Moondust - hope it's just barely under. You certainly have pretty darn healthy habits. Do you take K2 with your D3 ? -- it's supposed to help with absorption.

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited April 2016

    Hi Phoebe! It sounds like you are doing well with your activity! Yes, I take K2. I am bummed. I'll start taking calcium citrate with the Vit D and K2. Maybe I'm not absorbing the Calcium carbonate as well. The almond milk has that. I have been taking the Vit D only on days when I'm not outside at all -- maybe I need more D. Or some cookies!

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    Moondust - sorry to hear about the bone scan! I, too, hope you are just barely under. Everything I'm reading says to try non-dairy based calcium foods - like spinach, but you already eat very healthy and do everything else right. I also think salt gets a bad rap - but you need to get your potassium, and if you eat healthy, you get that in spades. So frustrating.

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

    Hi ladies,

    Do you have any suggestions for what to eat when recovering from surgery? I have to take a few days off from working out, and its really stressing me out! Thanks!

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    LittleBlueFlowers - I think the best food for after surgery is your standard anti-inflammatory one - lots of green leafy veggies, fruits like blueberries and strawberries, healthy fats, nuts, salmon and other fatty fish... Good luck and do try to follow doctor's orders. I know it sucks, but this too shall pass. Hugs.

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  • xcancer
    xcancer Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2016

    Hi all,


    I congratulate all of you for exercising in a time where i know it's hard. Cancer treatments are tough and sometimes all you want to do is stay in bed. But getting fit and reversing muscle loss isn't the only benefit from exercising while in treatment. I found some studies showing that it helps prevent a ton of common side effects. Even Chemo Brain. So keep up the good work. Exercise is really worth it.


    here are the links.

    Exercise & Treatment

    How it helps Chemo Brain

    Doxorubicin Side effects

    Exercise Improves Quality Of life & More

    Minimizes Prostate Cancer Side Effects


    Good luck to you all :)

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  • Andraxo
    Andraxo Member Posts: 410
    edited April 2016

    CJSharma - I'm 2.5 months past chemo (though the first few weeks after chemo should still be counted as part of chemo), but just finished radiation 2 weeks ago. I am not even close to what I was before or doing what I could do before and even during the first 3 rounds of chemo. After round 4 my muscles got weird and I had leg edema...but still pushed....sometimes in tears. I exercised hard just about every day through it all no matter how crappy I felt. I actually am the most tired right NOW. Radiation wiped me out. I'm still running and lifting weights and doing plyometrics (I alternate what days), but I don't have much energy...everything is slower and half assed. I also worked during all of treatment, but now I'm only working 6 hours/day instead of 10+ because I'm tired and something has to give for me to rest more...it is going to be work - not exercise or others in life. I signed up for races anyway. One is in 2 weeks (11.5 miles, split into two legs of 5.75 for a relay). I will be slow, but doing it anyway. :)

    Keep at it and do whatever you feel up to doing on any given day. Just know that a lot of treatment side effects are cumulative. Some people only get 4 dose dense chemo rounds. Others get 6 and those additional 2 can be rough. Most people in my group reported fatigue and difficulty just walking to get the mail or to the bathroom after a few rounds, and I felt a bit guilty complaining that a 6 mile run or snowboarding felt crappy. You're going into this as an athlete too, and you will remain an athlete!

    Littleblueflowers - agree with CJ...anti-inflammatory diet works well post-op. You're having fat grafting yes? Would love to hear how it goes. That is all I may be having for recon, if anything...just the fat grafting assuming I can use the Brava device.

    - xo

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    Andraxo - thank you! I have days when I'm too tired to push it. I don't other than a walk around the block with the dogs. If I push with weights, I tend to get more tired, so I try to be cognizant of that. I have 4 rounds of dose dense AC, then 4 rounds of Dose Dense Taxol. So far round 2 actually has been easier than round 1, but I'm not fool enough to think that will continue. Round 3 starts today. Fun. :p I'm not looking forward to radiation. I keep hearing it's the worst. But this too shall pass. :) Walking seems to be a really good workout for me. I'm walking the races. It should all be good.

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  • Andraxo
    Andraxo Member Posts: 410
    edited April 2016

    you got this CJSharma!! :) So glad you only have 4 of the AC, not 6... others in my group reported that the Taxol wasn't as bad as the AC, but I can't speak from personal experience on that so I hope it is true. The worst days in the cycle can also be from the Neulasta if you're getting it. I only had it once due to allergic reaction, but the round I had it was the most painful (joint pain, general body pain). Hope your round 3 goes well!

    - xo

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited April 2016

    Jen...ditto with what everyone is suggesting on foods to eat...I'd suggest making sure you get enough protein, water, and rest for healing.

    CJ... Good luck with your 3rd round today. You'll be more than 1/2 done with the AC! Radiation is different for everyone. It wasn't the worst for me. Other than the fatigue, I had virtually no problems with it. The biggest problem for me was having to go everyday and remembering to put all the creams on several times a day.

    PB

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

    Yay CJ almost done with AC!!!!! In fact, only one more, right? Yeah, taxol isn't bad. More pain, less nausea :)

    Does anyone on here know why I shouldn't be working out after fat grafting? I'm wearing Compression on my donor sites. The surgeon I it ally said no down time after fat grafting, but post op today he said no running or lifting over 10 lbs for 2 weeks. WTF???? I mean, I have a pretty big horse in this game, so I will comply, but that's really troubling.

    Ok so I'm committed to a high protein high veg diet, and am adding pinapple for the bromelian. Thanks for the suggestions!!! It was a short surgery- only 45 min. No pain. No stitches. Just 4 bandaids. Surgeon said compression was y choice. Hope everyone is well! I'll be living vicariously for a while :/

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

    Littleblue, you will be back to it in no time...

    So, Phoebe, I can relate to what you said about not posting because I felt like a bit of a fraud. No good excuse other than some overwhelming work stuff and not finding time in the day. But now I am on a combination work and play trip to Mexico. Right now I am in Mexico City where I've noticed everyone (at least in the business district where I am) seems to walk a lot, and fast!

    I am not walking fast, but I am walking. A lot. 4 miles Wednesday, 6 miles Thursday (we went out to the Pyramids, and the archeological zone is HUGE) and even today, when I was in a conference all day, I got in almost three miles, just walking from my (less expensive) hotel to the Conference hotel and back, around the conference, and to dinner and back at the end of the workday. Other than the number of potholes, this area of Mexico City is great for walking. Lots to see, lots of activity on the streets, safe, nice weather.

    And scuba in Cozumel next week.

    Too bad I am eating so much great Mexican food! :-)

    Octogirl

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  • Andraxo
    Andraxo Member Posts: 410
    edited April 2016

    LBF - I think that running could cause more bleeding (or late bleeding) from the donor areas and surgical sites - the areas that are trying to heal without added trauma (running would be trauma). I hated not being allowed to run for two weeks after mastectomy. That's a long time, but do-able. Hopefully you can at least get out to walk and hike. :) As for not lifting, I always wish they would say lifting what and how. Different weight lifting exercises stress different areas, but they always seem to just put a blanket restriction/across the board. Hope you heal quickly!!

    - xo


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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited April 2016

    Littleblue - I think the grafted fat also has to 'take' and establish it's own blood supply, and although some % apparently disappears, you want to allow as much as possible to hang around so maybe excessive movement doesn't optimize that...... just a guess. I too have heard protein is needed for healing..... and maybe a margarita [if Octo will email you one from her fabulous work/play vaycay].

    Thanks Moondust, I am trying! Feel like I have closed the door on rad recovery and time to move forward. Besides, I need more arm strength back as kayak and paddle board season starts in June :) I know I am way north of you, so always take D, but I have heard daily Vit D is not harmful for anyone in moderate amounts so maybe 1000 a day regularly? I also randomly came across some info on hydrolized collagen powder recently.... still investigating, but if any truth to it sounds like good for skin, hair, joints, and bones......


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

    Thanks, Andraxo! I wish they had said how much and what kind of lifting as well. Yrrgh. Well, I guess I can still walk! Yrrgh.

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2016

    Walking is a fabulous exercise and it is really cathartic. I listen to audible books as I walk, so I get in my "reading" too. I'll bet that the average person would not know the difference between a squat and a lunge, let alone the nuances of a balanced weight lifting regime. So, doctors give the blanket statement because of the lowest common denominator. Sucks, but helps avoid lawsuits from some claiming to be knowledgeable and hurting themselves (definitely not this group, but you get what I mean). I don't like that either. I'd suggest spinning but that does work the core - maybe if you sit more upright. My favorite doctor was one who said - you can do what ever you want, as long as it doesn't hurt (but that was for a broken ankle, and then knee surgery, so ...)

    Oh well, I'm joining you in the walking club this week. I'd decided I'll do more long distance walking this week, as I seem to do well with that post chemo. I'll avoid weights until Thursday, then I'm going heavy and hard! I'm okay with Nuelasta, but I do feel it in my ankle where it broke and my knee that has arthritis. Any kind of plyo and boom, I'm aching. Doc recommended Claritin before the shot and it seems to work over all.


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