2018 Running Thread

I had a BMX, SBN, and reconstruction with TEs one week ago. Needless to say, I'm not up for running at the moment. If any of you have had surgery along those lines.... how long until you felt like a real walk (2-4 miles)? Attempting to run? Accomplishing an actual run? I described my chest to a friend today by saying that it looks like the site of a car accident in which there were multiple injuries but no fatalities. I know it will get better, but it hurts to even lift a mug of coffee to my mouth so running seems like a distant goal. I did take my boobs on a glorious trail run the day before surgery and thanked them for riding with me these past 49 years - they loved the farewell tour!

ReadyAbout, I actually was doing some good, long walks within 10 days. I didn’t have the pain issues you’re having though. Hope you’re feeling better today.

Hope you don't mind me joining.  This may sound crazy, but I'm 61 and beginning to run.  I started in January during radiation, then finished the year teaching high school.  Decided to retire & ready to commit to running.  A good friend is training for the Masters, coaches a club track team & is willing to help. She had bc 4 years ago & runs to stay in shape.  I'm wanting to de-stress, sleep better, get in shape & beat this cancer stuff. 

I am almost 4 weeks out from bmx/snb/recon. I have tissue expanders and I tried to run just 100 yards on a trail and was like, "Nope." I feel like the edges of the tissue expanders dig into surrounding tissue and it's very uncomfortable. Did any of you run with tissue expanders? If so, any tips? In the meantime, I'm doing some long hikes, long walks, and the occasional spin class. Not the same as running, but I've had several complications from surgery and I notice that I do so much better emotionally on the days that I exercise.

Glad to find this thread - Yesterday I decided it was time to get back to running and did a little 3 mile walk/run. I've been super jealous of all the events daughter has done in recent months. In January we did the Disney Full together.

I had planned for it to be my last full marathon as I found the training to be much harder this time than in the past. At the end of that month I found the lump that would lead to my diagnosis so now I'm wondering if it was the cancer not my age that made it harder.

ReadyAbout, I was nowhere near able to jog at 5 weeks! I also have over the muscle implants, and experience a general soreness anywhere things are stitched on in there after my attempts at running. after reading these forums I've got 2 sports bras to wear for my next attempt at jogging. I had some minor complications so maybe my time frame is a bit different than others, but I am only just getting back into jogging at 12 weeks.

OutandAbout is so true! Listen to your body and do what works for you.

8 years ago when I was diagnosed with Lymphoma I had multiple runs scheduled for that fall. One 10 miler and one half marathon. My MO was not thrilled when I complained that his schedule for chemo was interrupting my runs. When I had my first round of chemo, I complained to one of the nurses (a runner) that I had been training all summer and was disappointed I wouldn't be able to run. She said Why Not? Just listen to your body if you are up to do it. Go ahead and run. I was so glad I listened to her. I was able to complete both of those runs. Were they PRs NO. But I finished.

I'm so, so excited to find this thread! I"m a runner, and have done 3 marathons and a bunch of halfs. My husband was diagnosed with myeloma 3/2017 and we went through a year of hell--bunches of chemo and two stem cell transplants. I was just getting back to running regularly when, BOOM--ILC for me!. Right now, I can hardly walk because of a traumatic breast biopsy (think personal watermelon with mastitis and hematoma) and the pain it's causing, but I'm gonna run again as soon as I can! Can I be on this thread, or is there another one that's better?

I managed 4 miles yesterday, with a few short breaks. If I can do it, I am thinking get in a 5 miler the morning before each session. A friend of mine just signed up to run a half in October, about 2 months after chemo ends, but I will be in radiation. I would love to join her, but I honestly don't know what radiation will take out of me. Haven't even really discussed radiation yet, one thing at a time!

Chelsea, that is great that you can run through radiation, too! I really feel like running is helping with everything, but I am also early in treatment right now, and I don't want to get my hopes up too soon.

Duffyzmom, I haven't changed bras, but I've made sure to wear the more supportive ones. And this morning when I woke up with a little pain, actually doubled up. (Pain was temporary, didn't even notice it while I was running.) I actually have a zip front bra I think I'm going to return that I bought before my surgery and still haven't needed to use. (To be fair, I'm only a B/C cup, so I can get away with less intense running bras to start with!)

You know, that's funny. I've been running (poorly--never fast) for years. I did about 3 fulls then in the past 5 years, I'd do two halfs every year. In March 2017, my husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and we went through a grueling 6-month treatment in NYC (we live in rural Texas) with two stem cell transplants and loads of chemo. I was running through most of it, but no where near training levels. When we returned after his treatment in November 2017, I tried to resume my training, thinking I"d plan a half this March, but simply could not get over the hump. Even through this May and June, my legs feel like lead. I, too, have looked back, wondering if it was the cancer. I haven't gotten much into this thread, but I'm eager to see if others' performance improved after the treatments.

I was fortunate to have an MO who was a runner herself. While there were a few weeks that could not do it, I ran through taxol, surgery, radiation, Herceptin and now Nerlynx. It’s been a life saver.