Let's Post our Daily Exercise

I'm so stealing your Naughty Cell Attack line, that is perfect. Love the scenery, absolutely gorgeous and I'm so glad you are riding this year.

For those of you who have a chemo port and are running, what sports bra do you use? I was running regularly, but now all of my sports bra straps run right over the port. Even using some kind of padding between the strap and the port does not make it comfortable. I do have regular bras that work, but because I am DDD size (for now), I need lots of support. I've relegated myself to walking, but I miss my running!

edj3 - Congrats on running through radiation!! I'm hoping I can do the same.

HikingLady - Beautiful picture! Wonderful news of getting back to more of the normal. It sounds like a great trip

BAMR - I haven't tried it yet but I bought adhesive bandages big enough to cover my port. I can't remember the brand but they are supposed to have some padding. I figured if I could get it to cover the entire port but have adhesive around it, then it wouldn't rub. Then I'd just use my regular running bra. I haven't gone running yet because my seroma hasn't gone down yet.

Miserably hot run this AM. It was 78F and 83% humidity at 5 AM. Yuck.

Very happy to be home after 4 days in Los Angeles. Had a great time, and glad that I went work-wise. I loved the Art Deco in Beverly Hills. Walked between 4-10 miles each day so kept up the exercise. Museums will be for another trip, and I will also want to cycle along the Pacific Ocean. Speaking of cycling, I was surprised to learn that LA has very few cyclists, though much of it is ideally suited to cycling. It would have been ideal for touring to see the architecture.

Hikinglady - what an ideal time to see the San Juans! I love cycling there with my fave being Lopez which is a bit less hilly and more rural than the others. On my list for later this summer. I just have to get out and do miles over the next 9 days as the Seattle-to-Portland is in two weeks.

LA is really two cities: the largely well-off crowd who are associated with the entertainment industry and everybody else. I stuck out taking public transport as it's for the "everybody else". Very different than London, DC, Boston or NY that way. I was equally surprised by how tawdry the theatre district is. Reminiscent of Boston's former "Combat Zone". My takeaway was that the LAPD have their work cut out for them.

On the other end of the spectrum, I used the Ladies at two different hotels in Beverly Hills. Gold-plated sink fixtures and terry cloth hand towels. I paid $23 for a (Violet Eyes) drink at the Beverly Hills Hotel, well worth a visit as it really is that glamorous. I compensated with dinner at a Chinese takeout place near where I was staying.

So indeed two cities: an unparalleled playground for the rich, and a gritty existence for most everyone else. But it is fun to go stare, and I really enjoyed doing the Walk at Hollywood & Vine, trying to remember those who once blazed across the sky and have since faded. There were two for Fred Waring. Was one for him as a band leader and the other for the blender?

I shall return. I have a terrific place to stay for cheap, and there are things I still want to see. And it will be more fun, now that I know how to get around. (Asking directions is mostly futile in a city that drives.)

Now, it's back to reality and major work. Next adventure is in 2 weeks. Even though this will be my 13th Big Ride, every one of these is different. Will be fun to see how this year's unfolds. Happy Summer everyone! - Claire

I kept exercising through chemo with a port. I can't remember what I tried, but I know it bugged the hell out of me the whole time!!!

We had a fun time at the concert last night. Today we drove through some terrible weather on the way home.....actually pulled off the road & waited it out as the wind was gusting to 80 mph & the rain was coming down so hard that it was like being in a car wash). Runner, I hope you are okay because it was heading your way! We are in a tornado watch until midnight, so the fun continues. I just got off 45 minutes on the treadmill and am going to force myself to do some sort of toning DVD.

My husband (RN) says people can have ports in for years. UGH! I had mine in for 6 months. It tugged a bit in different positions, but didn't bother me during any exercise, so I'm no help on this. It bugged me when I lay on my side, but not during up and down down motion, and I did have TE's at the same time. My port was way more comfortable after 1-2 months than it was during the first few weeks.

I asked the nurse when it could come out & she said two weeks after the last infusion. So, I made an appointment with the surgeon for that exact date and didn't even get my oncologist's okay until after I had done so. I wanted it OUT!!!!

I just finished with 75 minutes of pilates with Denise Austin.

jo6359 Having a port in for years occasionally is necessary with certain types of ongoing therapies. No one's favorite plan, but my husband says he's seen it.... This is not common for breast cancer patients at all; he just meant that it CAN be left in a long time, if a patient needs it in.

My breast surgeon (who did my BMX) is the one who placed the port. She said she'd take out my port in an office procedure, and my PS also said he'd do the same whenever I wanted, so it was up to me to figure out when and where, between either of those surgeons, and schedule it.

My MO wanted my WBC to be up before having the port out, and as I recall, he suggested waiting around 4-6 weeks after chemo ended, just to be sure I was feeling good before that small surgery. It turned out that I kept my port in another 8 weeks, because I was enjoying swimming. I was allowed to get in the pool again after chemo ended, and I didn't want to have to stop swimming longer than necessary. Both of my surgeons said I'd have to take 3-4 weeks off from swimming while the port-removal incision healed. Meanwhile, I knew I had my exchange surgery scheduled for in a few more weeks. I had my PS take the port out during my exchange surgery, since of course I was restricted after that surgery, and couldn't get in the pool for a bunch of weeks anyway.

hikinglady and ruth-Thanks. I go back for my second 3 months check up in a few weeks and I will address port removal with my MO.

My darling 98 year old aunt passed away 2 days ago. I wasn't happy about the unexpected trip to Tennessee in May. . Ruth you were right. You forget about the expense very quickly and focus on the good memories. We had a lovely party to celebrate her 98 years of living. Other than having difficulty recalling names of distant relatives she tended to her roses every day, cook her own meals and maintained her house. Her son and daughter came over daily to visit with her . The day she died she had breakfast with her daughter and spent three or four hours tending to her rose bushes. She cooked dinner for her son and kissed him goodbye. She went to bed and didn't wake up. Her daughter knew something was wrong when she didn't answer the phone the next morning. She lost her teeth at age 94 from a gum disease. So she bought Dentures for special occasions such as church and parties. She never fastened them in her mouth so whenever she would laugh her Dentures would pop out. At the party her Dentures popped out several times and we all laughed and she thought it was hysterical. She will be missed.

jo, I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. Lovely to celebrate her life. Even her death sounded like a nice way to go. She was doing things she loved.

edj, congrats on finishing chemo while running throughout. Amazing.

Hikinglady, beautiful biking.

I had a port for two years after finishing 6 cycles of chemo. They wanted me to keep it for Zometa infusions which went on for 5 years. I had had enough though.

It was too hot to bike today so we went for a hike along a lake. I used the poles again and that seems to have been good for my neck. Maybe I need to use the elliptical at the gym once it cools down. I will experiment with uploading a video on YouTube.

I did some yardwork & dusted off two FIRM DVDs; one sculpting & one a cardio dance selection.

Success!

Heidihill Yes, congratulations, and how gorgeous!!!

Just beautiful Heidi.

Well, I have been missing here of late, I have a severe case of the Lazys! Been travelling a bit, and getting a lot more movement with yard work and such than in the winter, but I just can't seem to get back in the swing of regular daily exercise. So yesterday and today I did classical stretch, just because. And I'm checking in here just to be accountable. I will try to check in more often because you are all very inspiring!

My DD, her husband and 4 kids are coming for a few days during the next week, looking forward to their visit. They are breaking up their week vacation at our house with a few days in Maine visiting relatives, we opted not to go to Maine with them, conserving our energy for their return visit