2018 Running Thread

TwinkleCat- That's terrible, I'm so sorry! No idea about whether running would be ok. I would guess that if it doesn't feel worse you could keep going, at least that is what I'd probably do. Thinking about you, hoping for the best.

Twinklecat - I'm sorry to read of your mets. As to running, I say do whatever you can. My doctors have always supported my desire to get back to something as soon as I could. My RO said no swimming during radiation; I learned to ease back into running after each surgery. But all encouraged movement of some sort during every phase. So, if you are feeling up to a run, go for a run. And if it's too hard, then slow down and walk.

Onegoodfriend, you are being hard on yourself. Take it from one who is also hard on herself. It's taken me 18+ months to get comfortable with sometimes, this is all I've got and that's OK. This cancer thing takes a toll physically; I think many of us ignore (or can't fathom) the emotional effects - of the shock of cancer, it's treatment, and the ongoing drugs such as AI. Keep doing what you can and join me on my journey to accept that it'll take a while to get back to where I was 2.5 years ago and that I might not!

Great news! My MO gave me the all clear to continue running!

wow! Thank you so much!!

Your words are very soothing to me & helpful. Much appreciated-

Hi Ladies! I am just getting back into running after 6+ weeks off after single mastectomy/immediate direct to implant, 27 lymph nodes, lumpectomy & SNB on right. 6 days after my plastic surgeon cleared me to run, finally, I had my port placed and was told not to run for another 1-2 weeks. I cried real tears for the first time in a medical appointment. Luckily I ran 3 of the 5 available days! I shaved off a couple of days from a week since my chemo was starting at day 8.

So, now I see what my body can do during dose dense AC and then 12 weekly Taxol. I have run 8 half marathons, a few 12ks, and a few 10ks. I just started running at age 37 and have dealt with femoral neck stress fracture and femoral neck stress reaction in those few short years!

I really hope I can run my beloved Charleston Half, which is on January 12. If I stay on schedule I'll finish chemo the last week of the year--I REALLY hope the holidays don't postpone that. I've thought about some short local races during treatment. I just want to do as much as I can without tearing my body down. Really psyched to have found this group!

Suzanne

Beeline, I had two zip front bras that I used when I started walking (faster than a stroll). I didn't run until I could get the sports bra that actually supported me over my head and on. I had my port placed during the mastectomy so didn't have a separate guideline for that. I will suggest starting slow versus jumping back in to running. I had a sentinel node dissection prior to my mastectomy and started running within a few days - I attribute doing to much to the cording that showed up a week later.

beeline: I bought some front zip bras from Athleta and wore those as soon as they were comfortable. I still wear them all the time; I bought a few from Target but I don't like those nearly as much because they aren't soft and after surgery I was all about soft and cuddly. I began hiking shortly after bmx, but couldn't even conceive of running until 5 weeks after. Spin class and elliptical are good options for cardio. I did spin 3 weeks after surgery and just stayed in the saddle until a week or two later when I felt that my arms could handle the stress of supporting my upper body. I notice that if I do too much, it nudges the tissue expanders a little out of place and then it feels uncomfortable. I coach tennis and I can tell that the TEs are not happy after just a few days of practice, lol. I am having exchange surgery soon and won't be able to do much for awhile after. Cancer recover requires a lot of waiting.

I had same surgery and I currently wear a sleeve on the side that had snb removal because A) I had cording on that side, I had cellulitis on that side and C) with my luck, I will totally get LE. I read somewhere that cellulitis increases the chance of LE. I have a good friend who is a PT and does a ton of work with lymphedema patients and she urged me to wear a sleeve for the first year or so after surgery. She also said that active people tend not to get bad LE because we are quick to get it treated. Hope this helps. I think I asked a question similar to yours on one of the LE boards and they all said they wished they had worn a sleeve after surgery.

I'm hope everyone is out enjoying the long weekend. I am happy to report I went for my first post-surgery run, about 4.5 weeks out. Thanks to the good advice here I waited until I could tolerate a proper sports bra (though think I will invest in something softer and less constricting for the future). I felt a bit sore in my armpit and down the inside of my arm afterwards, but nothing too bad and felt SO GOOD getting out there again!

Hi everyone! I’m new to the site and super excited to find a running group! I will admit, when I started my chemo journey in June I did have big plans to keep “running”.. which I was able to do the first two rounds to an extent, but mindset and physical exhaustion has dampened that more as time has gone on.. but as the original post says, sometimes walking is running! I have definitely been more active than many and have been able to go for at least one, sometimes two challenging hikes each round.

I am SO anxious to get my last chemo over with (early Oct) and ease back into at least a light running schedule before surgeries begin. I have waffled between prepectoral and pectoral implants for recon, but the more reassuring things I’ve read here on prepectoral I’m feeling better about it.. which makes me feel great! I just want to get back to my usual activities ASAP

I had bmx and recon on 5/16 and am still not running - an infection returned in my left side 4 days before my exchange surgery on 9/4 so I had surgery to take out the infected TE and am flat and waiting for next two months. Have two more surgeries ahead. In the meantime, I've had high hamstring tendinopathy for 18 months so I got a 2nd PRP injection last week to try and fix it. The funny thing is that I've had two infections in the last 3 months that made me very sick, but both times I could tell when I was back to feeling like myself because I started feeling more anxious/depressed about not running than the reconstructive surgeries. All of you who are back to running, I'm so happy for you! Please log some miles, fast or slow, for me!

Piksie - not this time around but 8 years ago when I was undergoing RCHOP for lymphoma I did two organized races during trip. A ten miler after 1st round and a half marathon after 3 round. Neither were PRs but definitely did a lot for my spirits. Especially finishing the half with no head covering bald and proud.

Hi. I am new here. I had a double mastectomy on October 15 for IDC on left. I had tissue expanders put in during the surgery and have had one fill so far. I am 52 and have been a runner my whole life. I had plans to do a marathon at the end of October but had to scrap that plan. I am so eager to get back out there but I don’t want to mess up the results of the reconstruction. I meet with my PS tomorrow and will ask but I’m dreading they will say no vigorous activity. Does anyone have experience with running that has negatively affected outcome of recon? Would gentle, slow jogging be a problem? I’ve been walking but it’s just not the same. Running is my mental health tool. It’s difficult to deal with the stress of all this without my go-to coping tool. Thanks for any advice.

Hi Andraxo, thanks for responding. Sounds like you had a good medical team. Had my post op with the breast surgeon and second saline fill with plastic surgeon. The PS said no running and no upper body workouts for 3 more weeks (6 weeks total post surgery). I begged for slow jogging but was told walking, biking, and lower body workouts were all they would approve. Apparently they worry that the pocket holding the expanders will be stretched out incorrectly. She really stressed that the long term results could be compromised. Very disappointed but since she put it that way, it's hard to argue. I have expanders under the muscle, not sure if that makes a difference and I also have a smaller chest. Although it will be bigger now. Lol. I'm thinking a turkey trot will be at 5.5 weeks so I might plan for that... something low key and fun. Take care.