Crossfit during/after treatment

Here's my tentative post bmx/diep/pleurisy home WOD

1) 2 push ups (mod as needed)

2) 5 bicep curls each side

3) 70 jumps OR jog 1000 paces OR row 5 minutes

4) 5 deadlifts, to 20 pounds max.

All not for time.

That's not Fran by any means but hey, it's a start.

I have just started back to crossfit after a 9 month break to deal with the surgery and chemo. I had mild swelling in the armpit and cording after surgery that I took physio for and then chemo really did a number on my legs and muscle endurance. I feel great to be back at it but after only 2 wod I have swelling in the armpit. Slow and steady I think will win this race. I will incorporate my physio tips into my wod too. Good wishes all.

After a couple of false starts I got a Crossfit trainer I know to create a series of wod for me and I've been making good gains this last 4 week. Pretty happy to be back at it.

Great thread. I do Orangetheory Fitness (OTF), not Crossfit. OTF is a chain. The workouts are just under an hour and involve alternating between HIIT on a treadmill, sometimes rower, and free weights, floor work and TRX. You wear a heart rate monitor so you can monitor what heart rate zone you are in. I started chemo on May 11, 2016, and have been able to continue working out. Initially I was going 3 x per week on the weeks I had treatment and 4 x on non-treatment weeks. Treatment is every three weeks. With my last cycle, cycle 4, I was able to do 4 workouts the week I had treatment. What I notice the most is how easily my heart rate is elevated. Before chemo I had to run swiftly for a bit to get my heart rate over 85%, now a slow jog for a few minutes will do it. I also had to move to lighter weights and need breaks when lifting. Even with the decreased performance, I am thankful that I have been able to work out during chemo.

I even gained a few pounds of muscle since starting chemo. I did begin to eat about 150 to 200 calories a day more and eat a lot more protein. If you are going to work out through chemo, I would definitely recommend the increased protein, I think it has really made the difference for me.

I think the exercise has really helped keep my side effects to a minimum. I get tired if I do too much, but I haven't been fatigued (fingers crossed that this continues).

I started 5 months of chemotherapy (2 months of AC and 3 of Taxol) in June, 2016. I only have 3 weeks/chemo sessions left and I am happy to report that I did not let up with my Crossfit workouts, running, nor volleyball playing/hiking/softball/etc. during any of these 5 months. Before my diagnosis, I had already been going to my local Crossfit for 3 years and was in pretty great shape. Once I was diagnosed, I mentally prepared for the worst; thinking that I wouldn't be able to continue working out and would slowly lose all that I had worked so hard for. But the morning after my first AC chemo infusion, I got up and ran my normal 5 mile, hilly trail run near my house. Then the next day, I went to Crossfit and worked out just like I had done before... doing RX workouts (lifting heavy weights), jump roping, climbing ropes, doing burpees... and still finishing near the top of my class. Then week after week, infusion after infusion, I just kept going! I consider myself in the fortunate 20% (so says my doctor) of chemo patients who do not get many serious side effects from it. My last chemo is scheduled for Oct. 20. On November 13th, I will run a half marathon with a group of friends. To be truthful, my pace is much slower than normal- but hey... I'm out there doing it and so happy and grateful that I still can!!! I've posted much more info about my journey at cancerjensway.blogspot.com

I too had minimal side effects from chemo and exercised throughout. Admit I dragged a lot of days and much slower than normal. I will also say that I recovered a lot more quickly than most patients. I did a cycling event during Taxol (shorter route and walked a lot of hills), and then two 45-mile events just following radiation. Again, I was slower than normal. (I am NOT fast at either cycling or running.)

7 years later, I remain fit and sculpted.

Exercise is good for every single thing you can imagine. This was underscored recently at a survivorship conference I recently attended at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Not just a quality of life benefit, but also a survival benefit. And for diseases other than cancer, as cancer patients are also much more likely to die from heart disease.

Good luck Miko!!! You will do just fine. And do let us know how you do in the half marathon, FitDuringChemo!!! BTW, you should expect radiation to be a breeze after chemo. And yes, you should expect to be able to run throughout.

One thing I will mention is that all the exercise potions are your friend. I don't use nearly as many now that I am 7 years out. But I did use a lot of GU Gel and ibuprofen to do the events and training. So don't worry if you need to slug down a few. The important thing is that you are out there. - Claire

I forgot the most important thing is friends I have made on this site

I haven't done Cross Fit but I do a lot of power yoga. i often feel sore in the rib area around the reconstructed breasts. Fortunately i have not had any issues with range of motion. i wear a supportive sports bra for yoga and running. It took me several months to get my stamina back post-treatment, and also my balance

Hi Sofia!

I was recently diagnosed too (mid july). Before that I was weight lifting 6 times a week, and since the news haven't been able to workout. The primery reason is because when I found out, my brain wasn't really focused on it (was actually very stressed about being athletic and taking care of my health my entire life, to have CANCER). Then came surgery, and now I am about to face the boogie man a.k.a chemo. Going through the web I found several individuals who had participated and completed the Ironman competition while undergoing chemo. Then I said: I have to go back to the gym!!!! I also have a port, not really sure if I'll be able to do pushups with it, but i'll try to diversify my routines.

Hope you're doing wll!!!

Hi Sofia & Nash,

I'm glad this board is active again. I only took up cross fit last September after I had finished my first lot of breast cancer treatment (lumpectomy, chemo and radiation). I've recently been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer with 1 brain tumor and 1 lymph node and have continued going to crossfit. I had to have 6 weeks off after the crainiotomy but have been given full clearance to do whatever I want physically now. I'm in the middle of chemo and while I don't feel as fit as before I still complete the WOD every second day. I do find my heart rate goes up pretty quickly and i'm probably a bit slower but it feels good to be active again.

I had a port put in about 4 weeks ago and specifically asked the surgeon if I was allowed to lift, do burpees, etc. He said I can do whatever I want but it may just be uncomfortable. I haven't had to modify much, but i'm not doing a lot of lifting at the moment and I do inverted pullups on the rings instead of hanging from a bar. I find my shoulder on the side with the port is very stiff, I had issues with it before but it seems worse now. I do pushups without any issues.

During my first round of treatment everyone just told me to take it easy but I really wish I had of kept active, I think it helps with the side effects and mental health. Of course take advice from your own medical team about your specific situation.

If i'm struggling mentally during a workout I try to imagine my cancer cells dying :P

Holy moly candygirl sounds like you're killing it. I'm struggling a bit with my heart rate during wods, Im hoping it's just related to low blood counts. Maybe I should focus on lifting and slow the pace down a little.

No advice on diet, it's my biggest weakness. I eat a lot of protein and my husband is bbq obsessed. I worry that I eat too much red meat but still can't manage to get my nutrition on track. Carbs = life for me

I'm still around I've left my crossfit gym but only for financial reasons. I miss it so much but still doing cross fit workouts on my own for now. Doing a few spin and pump classes as well

Parakeetsrule, do you have any tips on how you got into strength training? I was a weightlifter (but not crossfitter) before BC, and since I'm still in physical therapy for my shoulder and have significant tightness in arm and chest post-radiation, I'm not ready to get back to it yet. But I want to dream! Would love to hear about how people on-ramped back slowly after treatment.