Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

CJ, I love your new avatar! I have been sick all week with a fever. I haven't been able to do many steps. Hopefully it will resolve by next Wednesday when I'm supposed to have my port put in.

I hope everyone will have a good weekend!

I was busy today! I took the dogs for a 1.5 mile walk, then did Tapout XT Cross Core Combat (well 30 minutes of it - it's 45). Then my daughter and I went for a 3.5 mile hike. It's my first time since I started chemo that I'm exhausted because of physical activity, not chemo, and I'm loving it! Not bad for having an infusion on Thursday, eh? Taxol is so much easier.

Moondust, I don't think I got intubated for port placement. They gave me some kind of twilight drug. Hang in there, hopefully you will only have some soreness for a few days and then press on. I didn't pay attention to any restrictions and rode my bike a few days after port placement, but slow and expecting an alien to leap out of my chest - nothing happened lol!

CJSharma, great day for you!

12 miles hiking in three days, about 2,000 feet of elevation gain, so beautiful. Would do more, but we have a 13 year old Italian Greyhound named Jack and I don't want to blow him out.

Here he is about a year and a half ago hiking in Moab. Love my little guy! He had a booboo, hence the bandage.

Had hiking and swimming plans for the weekend...until I managed to step on a hot coal that somehow flew off the grill and got under my (bare) foot....second degree burn right on the bottom of my foot and it may be a good three weeks to a month before I can really walk normally... :-( and forget swimming for a least a few weeks, too much risk of infection)...

so, yeah, I am not a happy camper. Hubby is taking all the blame (he was the one grilling) but that doesn't really make me feel all that much better about being waited on constantly and not being able to walk. I don't feel sick or even in pain anymore, but still stuck on the couch. Thank God for baseball, good books, and a bit of wine in the evening.....

Moondust, I hope the fever goes away and the port placement and chemo go fine. I'm not ridiculously far away if you need anything once i can walk again, just PM me....was hoping to could suggest a hike in Kings Canyon where I was supposed to be camping next weekend, but that isn't looking very likely for me :-(

Moondust, ouch! Glad to hear no sign of infection.

Yes, our little boy Jack, 13 years old, hiked 16 miles in 4 days. He is such a trooper! Not to mention elevation gain at altitude

Hi All! I haven't been on the boards in a while...been traveling a bit for work and play, and doing some races. Red Rock Relay in Moab a few weeks ago went really well! Yay! We had to cover for a runner who dropped out the day before so I ran 16 miles total that day but not more than 6 at a time. Tonight I signed up for a half marathon that is this weekend. "Thelma and Louise" half in Moab. I was holding out until last minute in case I ended up with post-radiation pneumonitis which would hit right about now if it was going to happen. I did that half marathon last year and at the time it was my best half ever. Have to try really hard to be kind to myself for this race and not compare to last year. My legs have had some setbacks which is discouraging (but likely due to that fluoroquinolone I took back in December/January which started all my muscles and joint problems). Having good weeks and bad weeks, not steady gains.

Moondust - Are you just having TC chemo (4 or 6 rounds) and no other chemo? If yes, why do you need a port? I had 6 rounds of TC and no port. They did it all using the veins in my R arm. No problems with any of them during infusion or after. Might be worth asking about if it isn't too late. If you are getting the smaller weekly or monthly infusions after TC (herceptin??), then you do need a port.

So happy to read through all the fun exercise everyone is doing and yay Little Blue for passing that test - brutal and awesome!11

Andra xo

Andra, thanks for the thoughts, but I had the port installed yesterday. My RO and several of the oncology nurses told me I should get one to save my arm veins, especially since I hike at altitude so much. I'm glad yours held up through all the treatments you had. My veins are 16 years older than yours, and that may make a difference. So far my port is only a little bothersome. I think in a few more days it will settle in and be fine. The doctor who did it was super and did the placement where my pack won't bother it.

Lots of luck with the half marathon this weekend! Keep us posted.

we all have different goals. Last year I set a goal to hit 3,000 miles on my bike. This year I think Ksusan has a goal of 2016 miles for the year 2016, or something like that. I'm not sure what my goal is this year. Currently I am at 1,500 miles riding, hiking and walking, and hope to at least pass my 3,000 miles from last year. Others strive for a number of days with 10,000 steps. I'm sure some have swimming goals, we have one "Octo" lurking around who I think is a water loving chick

I read something recently that said look, just make sure you sweat for 30 minutes at least 3-5 times a week. That sounds like a good goal to me!

Oh, and our motto is "everything counts!" Dog walks, laps around the house doing housework, whatever can get fit in.

An effective exercise program for fighting breast cancer has three components:

An aerobic workout that pumps up your heart rate. Examples include brisk walking (outdoors or on a treadmill), jogging, swimming, or bicycling.

Strength training to tone and build muscles. This includes lifting weights or working with a machine circuit or resistance bands. (Be sure to get instruction if you're new to this type of exercise; light weights are sufficient to maintain strength.)

Stretching to keep muscles and joints limber.

CJ, I'll be starting TC next week so I'll keep the achy joints in mind! We are in the triple digits right now so unless I get up very early it is hard to get my steps when I'm home. I'll do most of them tonight. You are an inspiration to me!!

Yesterday I did my final strenuous hike before I start chemo. According to my Fitbit, it was over 39,000 steps and over 500 "floors" (=5000 feet of elevation gain). It was a brutally steep trail. I was worried that my newly inserted port would be a problem but it was fine.

Hiking is the only good exercise I get for my legs, because my bad knee won't tolerate biking or squats or most other exercises which are effective for legs. During chemo I won't be going to the gym. That leaves some leg lift exercises with ankle weights I'll be able to do at home. If anyone has other ideas, please let me know!

Moondust - I have a wonky right knee - had part of the meniscus scoped out and now I have trouble going down hill. It's keeping me from hiking as much as I want to - your hike sounds amazing! Do you have any issues? I need to find something that will help. Braces don't seem to. It's hot here, too - not quite 105 but close (98). And I don't have air conditioning. I have to walk the dogs before 9AM or my little white terrier over heats as he's so low to the ground. The Aussies could go forever, though.