2018 Running Thread

FWIW, when it comes to workouts, I have lived in Athleta zip up bras. I found it online on sale and bought it, then liked it so much I bought several more. I have tissue expanders in, so my foobs aren't as heavy as my boobs were, but this bra provides good coverage and support for the foobs. Supposedly I won't need this kind of support after the exchange, but we'll see. Also, I've had high hamstring tendinopathy for 1.5 years and finally went to an orthopedist last week. She's doing an ultrasound on Monday. I figured as long as I had crushed my deductible and still don't feel like running, I might as well get this looked at. She thinks it's partially torn. ): If it's not one thing, it's another!

Hi All, I just had surgery 11 days ago-- left mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction, 4/27 lymph nodes on left, lumpectomy and SNB on right. The plastic surgery resident laughed at me when my first question the next morning, about 16 hours post-6-hour-surgery, was "ballpark on when I can run again?" So..when can I reasonably expect to run again, y'all? I should get my last drain out next Thursday at the latest.

I just started running 8 years ago at 37, and have run 8 halves and numerous other races. I am a solo family court lawyer and running is my sanity. I was in such great shape (for me) just before this diagnosis and got in even better shape to prepare for surgery. It's maddening!

Suzanne

ChasSuz- I didn't have a mastectomy. I had a lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by re-excision. Much less invasive surgeries. After my first one, I tried to run about a week and a half later. It was too soon. I made it about 3 blocks and knew it was time to stop, but it was so close that I ran home instead of walking. Bad idea! It took a full 3 weeks before I was able to start a few slow short runs with 2 sports bras... then another surgery. That was more minimal, so I think it was about a week after that one that I began to build again, trying to train my body to be ready for chemo. (I also tried to train harder going into surgery). It is frustrating, but I think with mastectomy, the road will be much harder, unfortunately. But keep doing whatever you can for your fitness so you can transition back when you're ready.

BTW, round 2 of chemo was Thursday. I managed to maintain my goal of cranking out 5 miles that morning. It was rough. It has been oppressively hot and humid here in the northeast. But I did it! And another slow 3 miles yesterday. This round is not hitting me as hard so far (fingers crossed).

I'm so happy to have found this thread! I was just diagnosed with local recurrence yesterday and know that I will have surgery and radiation, but i don't know what it will entail. My mastectomy in Jan '16 was skin-sparing with immediate reconstruction. I had a revision in Oct '16 to "clean up the area around the scar" and gave righty a lift. Then I found a lump two weeks ago, right near the scar. The lump and a lymph node biopsy were positive. Ugh!!!

I took a long break from fitness for a host of reasons, but got back to it Dec '17. I've been killing it since then and have been completely absorbed in the lifestyle, even getting my kids into trail running and hiking with me. I ran my first Spartan in May and signed up for three more in Oct, Nov, and Dec. Then BAM!!!

I don't want to spend another two years doing nothing. I haven't even met with my surgeon yet so I have no idea what I'm in for, but I will be watching this thread closely. You all are making it happen! Thank you!

Ice your feet and toes well during Taxol treatments. You really need to avoid the neuropathy, even temporary symptoms, to run the marathon.

Hi everyone -- I just received my diagnosis this morning: invasive mammary cancer with ductal and lobular features. Still awaiting full pathology for receptors and grading and stuff... MRI scheduled next week, along with appointments with breast surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist.

I am 41, and an avid runner. I am currently registered for a marathon on 12/2 -- and I was planing to begin training this week! Totally not expecting to receive a cancer diagnosis this morning -- my mass was birads 4, and I was expecting to hear that it was benign.

Anyway -- I will continue with my training plans in the meantime, since I won't know until next week what I am really facing in terms of treatment. I expect a lumpectomy, at minimum... so I know I'll need to adjust my expectations. I know I can always defer my marathon registration, if needed, but I really think that continuing my training will help me mentally.

Will post update when I have more info -- but first wanted to just reach out and say hi!

TwinkleCat: Welcome to the group and sorry you are here! This is a wonderful sorority that no one wants to join. Flexibility about training & fitness will be your best friend during the months ahead. Breast cancer treatment, in my experience, is neither a speedy nor linear journey. Your doctors will run a gazillion tests and some test results take several weeks to come back; meanwhile you are in a frustrating holding pattern. Lumpectomy may take you away from running for a few weeks, radiation can wreak havoc on skin and endurance, medications may have side effects, etc. Or you may sail through much of this without any adverse experiences, and I hope you do! Just give yourself some grace and enjoy the things you can do whether it's running or simply coffee with friends. I had a double mastectomy w/reconstruction 8 weeks ago and have done tons of hikes, spin classes, weights, etc. I have been surprised/delighted by how much I've enjoyed all the cross training. I recently got a PRP injection for high hamstring tendinopathy so I can't run for 6-8 more weeks, but it's perfect timing because I had several post-surgery complications and haven't felt well enough to run. Follow your training plan and see where it takes you - good luck!

I just wanted to share this little race video from the European track & field competition . Made me tear up - for everyone... https://twitter.com/DominGo/status/102169363457873...

Moth- Love that video What a finish!

I have just one round of TCH left but am only walking right now due to a blood clot that formed. Just wondering if radiation is going to delay my return to running. I'm large breasted so I have a feeling that will factor somewhat into it. I really wanted to do a fall Half but now it's looking doubtful.

I met with the medical team on Weds, and I now have a better idea of what I'm looking at -- some of it depends on additional testing, though... Based on the MRI from Monday, it looks like I have lymph node involvement -- as well as a mass in my other breast, so I'll need an ultrasound (and possibly biopsy), as well as a PET scan to look for mets. If no mets, then I shouldn't need chemo -- just surgery, radiation, and anti-hormone therapy. I will definitely be getting a mastectomy on the right, and will decide about the left pending the results of genetic testing and further imaging of the left breast. Looks like surgery sometime in September.

Good news -- my surgeon is TOTALLY supportive of me continuing to run! I told him I was training for a marathon, and he didn't have any concerns!

I'll scroll back through the thread, but any ladies able to share their experiences running following mastectomy?

A pure running question—heart rate monitors. I've been using my phone for GPS/MapMyRun/Strava, and am daydreaming about getting a new HRM. (I use both of them because they never match. I run by feel and the average range is a full 2 minutes. I know I'm not running 7:17's!) It's been ages since I had a functioning HRM, the days of Polar & chest straps. What do you use/recommend?

ReadyAbout -- I am planning to do reconstruction, but not until after I finish/heal from radiation.

diffyzmom - regarding your radiation and running question. I didn’t run during chemo (walk and swim) and worked back to running during radiation. Didn’t regain my speed prior to the next surgery but handled a half marathon no problem. I stopped beating myself up on the speed and endurance things figuring i have plenty of time to get that back after treatment wraps up.

TwinkleCat: If you are doing a mx, what will they be radiating? Do they want to radiate the lymph nodes? Just curious. I had a bmx because I wasn't a good candidate for radiation, so mastectomy was my only option. Anyway, I'll give you my 2 cents about exercising after mx and hopefully others will weigh in. Not gonna lie, the recovery was really, really hard, even though I have a high pain threshold. It felt like the worst, longest Spartan race ever. The best advice I got is, "No one gets a problem-free recovery." I had several complications (tissue not healing on one side, hematoma in SNB side, axillary cording in SNB arm, infection 7 weeks post-surgery that landed me in hospital, and nerve pain, which was by far the worst part). I really had to advocate for myself and be strong-willed with my PS on several occasions. Anyway, I felt like I'd been hit by a Mack truck the first week - I don't remember much of it. I started hiking 11 days after, went to spin class 3 weeks after, and went running 5 weeks after, started lifting weights again 5-6 weeks after. The tissue expanders do not feel very good when you run - they have hard edges and can dig into tissue, so keep that in mind. My PS said I could start running 2 weeks after surgery, but I laughed when I got to that date because I still felt so lousy. Also, you have two drains coming out each side of your chest and they stay in between 1-3 weeks. They are held in place by sutures, so it feels uncomfortable when the drains move the slightest bit and I personally cannot imagine running with drains in. Hiking yes, and I did stationary bike with drains in, but that was about it. It's also a real hassle to shower with drains. Drains cannot come out until the fluid going into them measures 25ml (I think) or less each day for a few days, and the more you do, the more fluid you create, so it's kind of a Catch-22. Have you sat down and talked with women who have done mastectomy and reconstruction? I "interviewed" two women who had done it and they were very honest about what to expect and I knew it would be hard and it STILL kicked my butt. I apologize if I sound like a Debbie Downer, but I would rather know the reality than be surprised when it hits. I really hope your recovery is smooth and you are able to resume your training quickly! And I hope you get positive news from any tests you are still waiting on!

TwinkleCat- Strange, I vaguely remember someone (one of my docs or maybe my genetic counselor) saying that one reason some people choose mastectomy over lumpectomy is because after radiation, they usually can't do reconstruction because of tissue changes, so if they had a recurrence and need mastectomy then, reconstruction would no longer be an option, and they would lose their chance. It gave me pause about my decision for a minute, so that is why I remember.

Also, regarding the post from ReadyAbout, I didn't have mastectomy, just a lumpectomy with SNB (the lump was close to the nodes, so one incision, and she dug around to get both things from the one hole), and I still couldn't run for about 3 weeks, so, agreed, the idea of trying to run after 2 weeks with a mastectomy seems pretty farfetched.