Topic: Any Long-Distance Athletes there already in treatment?

Apr 12, 2012 08:47 AM mdg wrote:

I am not a runner but I am a fitness instructor and I exercise daily at a very high intensity. I did TC x4 and was able to exercise 5 days a week all through chemo. My doctor would not let me teach aerobics during chemo. ...I really don't know why as I still could have. I did do the elliptical daily for an hour on a higher level though. I just listened to my body and adjusted the level if I was a little more tired that day. On tired days I was on level 9 and on more good days I was on level 15 or 16. I finished chemo and went back to teaching aerobics a few weeks after I was done. In fact my class never knew I did chemo as I could keep up with them and I had used cold caps to keep my hair so I still looked the same. I finished chemo the first week of May last year. I now started running and run 6miles three days a week, do yoga, teach aerobics and do the elliptical. I also do weights. What was funny is my best friend came to be with me on my last chemo and I took her to the gym with me the day after chemo and she could not keep up with me. I tortured her with my weight workout. My biggest advice is to listen to your body and do what you can on that day. Be kind to yourself as some days are harder than others. Drink tons of water daily. I have also found yoga to be very helpful for me since reconstruction. I also recommend a physical therapist post mx to help get range of motion back. I did exercises and stretches daily after surgery. I got a booklet of post op exercises and stretches from my breast center. Ask your doctor for some. If you don't get any PM me your email and I can email you a copy of what I was given. Good luck. You CAN do this!!!! It was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Apr 16, 2012 09:06 AM groovygirls wrote:

Hi Nightnurse-

Come check out the runners forum.

Apr 19, 2012 02:17 AM Nightnurse wrote:

groovygirls;  thanks for the heads up!!

Apr 19, 2012 02:53 AM sbaaronson wrote:

I continued my workouts through chemo as well. I had my treatment on Fridays after my workout, trained on Sat and Sunday, took Monday and Tuesday off and was back at it on Wednesday. I definitely slowed down as the treaments went on(4 rounds of TC) but I refused to stop. I do have to say that my muscles "softened" during treament and my body 16 months later is not what it was before this. But, the chemo put me in chemopause and then it was on to tamoxifen. It's been a tough and sometimes upsetting athletic adjustment, working without hormones...

May 6, 2012 04:18 PM Nightnurse wrote:

Iam having to be very patient because I have 4 drains still and cant run yet and my arms/shoulders are still sore and weak so I can't bike.  It's hard because everybody around you is continuing on with their activities without you.   

Jul 30, 2012 02:26 PM Nightnurse wrote:

BikerLee:  Thank you for your response!  I apologize for taking so long to respond.  I am half way through chemo with 4 rounds of AC under my belt and just starting Taxol (and hopefully herceptin if insurance approves my equivocal result!)  and Herceptin for 4 rounds.  I ran/rode a duathlon last Sunday the 22nd of July.  I usually take it easy the first few days after chemo but I start back by the 4 th or 5th day after.  I have noticed that I am just winded and fatigued when I work out.  Can't really catch that beautiful deep cleansing breath every so often.  And my ride times and run times are slower that April which was my last duathlon.  Even so, I was able to come in first place in my age group of 50-54.  I will def take that!!!  I feel so much better when I stay on top of my workouts.

Sep 14, 2012 10:36 PM Nightnurse wrote:

Hi, Cyano!!  I just finished my 8 rounds of AC and T/Herceptin.  The Herceptin will go on for a year.  I start rads next week and  tamoxifen.  I am in active chemopause, damn it!  That has been so disruptive. Hot flashes suck.  No other way to say it. I am ready for this to be over so I can get my life back.  I have done several duathlons during chemo and i run and cycle, too.  Now I am working with a personal trainer to improve my core strength and flexibility.  I have some long bike tours coming up in the next month.  I so want to be getting back to some semblence of normal by next spring.  I will have recon in Feb.  Thanks so much for posting!!!