Stage IV MBC Fitness
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Keeping the body moving, is key. I started doing qigong and I love the energy flow, great for balance and circulation, and of course peace of mind. Love this gal kseny she is on YouTube, nice easy way to start . ❤️ Rhonda
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@rlschaller Rhonda, I agree that movement is the key. Some days it’s easier than others. So glad qigong works for you. I will have to look into that.
From looking at your signature, it appears you have been through a lot since initial diagnosis. Praying everything stays stable.
I had first PT appointment yesterday. Did some dry needling in my buttocks with some electrical stimulation. I think it helped. Feeling less sciatica in my leg today. Also got a few exercises to perform daily. Looking forward to getting back to normal soon.
Hugs, Pam 💗2 -
01-29-2026
Thank you, @chicagoan !
>I am back to pickleball<
Haha, I have no idea what that is but you all talking about it has raised my curiosity. I will be checking out the senior and community center to see if it's offered there. Also the exercises for those with cancer.
@livinglifenow I hope your sciatica can be dealt with through PT , but that is so great all your tests looked good!
>Doing my best to keep moving and not give into the fatigue which is always around the corner for me.<
That's how I find myself. I have to plan my moves due to fatigue. I have to learn how much I can do without really paying for it later.
Pls luk how your new pickball activities go.~ Wanda
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@livinglifenow Pam so glad the PT was helpful. Funny how the lines of normal change lol. Daily practice, breath allow notice and relax. My daily mantra. I do daily pt for my range of motion recovery from radiation. It’s the consistency of movement that helps. And yes, it’s been quite the adventure these last three years. Skin Mets are tough to contain, but we keep trying different lines of chemo. It hasn’t spread internally, so there is that . Right now I’m stable, 3 radiation treatments and the CMF + Keytruda seem to be the magic juice, so far. Appreciate your well wishes for stability..
Did my QiGong again today, a little longer. I love it. Since infusion was yesterday, it cut through the chemo off feeling so well, could feel the energy. And of course, as those who know me on other threads, my meditations of light are my source of goodness.
Happy movement to all, ❤️ Rhonda3 -
@rlschaller Rhonda, I just did my first QiGong routine. Loved it! So glad you mentioned it.
Hugs, Pam 💗2 -
Hi everyone. I had checked out for a number of months. I'm doing very well and hope you are too. The last year and a half has been a little rough. Lots going on medically but not in a real bad way. After my mastectomy in April i think, i strained a small musclein my back. No wonder as I was idle during chemo since previous Oct. Then Sept I fell and twisted my left knee. The end of the next month i popped a disc in my back. Sciatica like pain all the way down to bottom of right foot. It seems to have triggered my baby bunion or big toe arthritis to flare up and in turn caused a neroma. Had to wait 3 months before dr squeezed me in for epidural which barely helped. PT has helped some. I've come to realize that much of pain in lower right leg and foot are peripheral neuropathy. But not from the chemo rather from the compressed nerve. I finally feel like i could begin walking a bit. So 3 questions. Any advice regarding neuropathy.? Only thing really that has allowed me to sleep is Percoset and I can't get more.
And regardig the walking sticks. I have a few hickory sticks but is using both best? I really have bad balance with this bad leg. It's a bit cold now so maybe stick to the treadmill for a while and build some strength. Best do something for upper too. I was really hoping i could work in the garden this summer; or should i give up that thought? I feel like i should be training for this marathon. But I feel much fatigue without sleeping well.
Thanks for the motivation
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@gailmary Wow, Gail! You have really been dealing with a lot this past year. I can relate to the sciatica pain. I’m still dealing with that right now as well, and it sure makes it difficult to be active. My first PT session last week helped for a day. I felt really good the day after. However, those muscles just tightened right back up again. So, I hope my session tomorrow improves things a bit more. As for help with sleep, I take a 1 mg Ativan every third night. That does help me to sleep and relax my muscles. I don’t want to take it every night because that’s not good and you can build up a tolerance to it. But, every third night really does help me sleep and helps with the muscles. Perhaps that might work for you?
I do a lot of walking just around my house every half hour or so. Trying to get steps in. Also, I do light weights and floor exercises when I can to keep the muscles as strong as I can, despite everything.
I have no advice on the walking sticks, but perhaps someone else will chime in.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Hugs, Pam 💗2 -
hi @gailmary here is YouTube I’ve used for neuropathy , perhaps try this if it feels right. The maple tree cancer alliance was recommended to me by my surgeon a few years back, and I had a personal trainer from there for a bit too. All online. The founder made this video, and I found it helpful for balance and strength . ❤️❤️ wishing you healing and joy, Rhonda
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Thanks Pam, I may end up asking for Ativan but not sure how it works with my antidepressant. I've come to believe my severe insomnia (chronic for over 55 years) is aggravated not just by my nerve issues but also the anastrozole. Having weird bone pain too not just in the joint like with arthritis. Exercise is clearly in order for this.
I've been cleaning out the medicine cabinet of miscellaneous drugs for my nerve pain. I run it by my neighbor doctor. Pain isn't as severe anymore and now I switched to a muscle relaxant. Taking only every 2 or 3 days. Eventually I will need a script for insomnia and I can't take melatonin, benadryl or ambien. This is my 3rd time on an AI. I want it as long as is tolerable.
Sciatica has not usually been a problem for me till this pinched nerve. I regularly stretch the piriformis muscle. Good luck with that.
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Hey Rhonda. It sounds like your doing pretty good. I hope so.
Thanks for the video for the neuropathy. There were a few in there I can add to those from my therapist. Some a little more aggressive. I have seen a bit of improvement so I'll keep going. Yes, the strength and balance I'd like restored.
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Beginning to think this new line of treatment with Xeloda is slowing me down. It's causing tremendous physical and mental fatigue. I've shortened my walks a bit because of it. Sometimes I can do the walk in the morning, but am then completely wiped out for the rest of the day. If I go the full walk I had by doing, I really start feeling much more tired when I reach the last six blocks to back home. Very unpredictable and erratic side effects so far. It's only been 3.5 weeks and I see the oncologist for the first follow-up with this drug tomorrow. Too soon to tell I'm sure, but I can't help but wonder if it's "just" drug side effects I'm experiencing, or if it's cancer progression. Time will tell.
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@threetree Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear about this fatigue, and the uncertainty is so hard to deal with. I hope it's just your body adjusting to the new med and that the side effects will diminish. Really good that you're walking despite it all.
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@threetree During my first cycle of Xeloda I was extremely tired. I no longer had the energy for daily activities. I complained to my oncologist who told me that my quality of life should be respected; So we reduced the dosage and things were much better afterwards. I still feel tired sometimes, but it's more manageable.
It would be worth discussing this with your oncologist and seeing if the benefit/risk balance allows for a lower dosage or switching to cycles of one week of treatment followed by a one-week break instead of two out of three. The decrease in my tumor markers guided our decision.
I hope you regain your energy soon and that your visit with your oncologist is positive.6 -
@threetree Wow! It sounds like something certainly has a negative effect on your energy. Perhaps @soldanella ’s advice will be something you can investigate and will work for you. It’s certainly a bummer to feel so beat down when we are all trying so hard to be healthy and fit. Best of luck at your next doctor visit!
Hugs, Pam 💗1 -
Going to try this again. Lost two previous attempts at posting earlier:
@tougholdcrow - Thank you so much for the sympathies and good wishes. They are much appreciated, especially today. I am truly hoping this is something I can eventually adjust to and carry on with. I'm also really glad that I can still take my walks, even if they are somewhat shorter.
@soldanella - I really appreciate hearing about your experience and the dose reduction. I'm currently taking 3000 mgs a day (divided between morning and evening), and am already on the one week on, one week off schedule. The oncologist said that is a low dose, and that he was prescribing it for me, because I have get a lot of side effect problems in general. I don't know if you can go to a yet lower dose. I'm a little hesitant to ask him about it for fear that he might stop it, and it's my understanding that there isn't much more out there for me, if this doesn't work, so I want to give it a good shot. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that things go well at the appointment tomorrow, and that maybe I just need to hang in there longer and that things might smooth out then.
@livinglifenow - I so know what you mean about how we are all trying to stay as healthy as we can, and don't need these "downers"! I am far from the only one that this sort of thing happens to, and I feel bad for all of us in that regard. The old "not fair!" thing. Thanks for the good wishes for my appointment tomorrow. I'm really hoping for the best. I did get about a half hour walk in today, but it was only half my usual. Still a real positive though!
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@threetree Hi ya! I’ve been reading along and just want to say you have to be nice to yourself. With everything going on, you still got a walk in! That is great!
I learned this saying on this forum and want you to know I am in your pocket praying for easy tolerance and even better results. All my best! juliana3 -
@threetree hope your appointment went well today. I join everyone in saying we are here for you ❤️❤️❤️❤️ hang in there. Being kind to yourself , loving yourself, accepting change and being adaptable and flexible is a place of practice. Lol I read this once and it was so helpful… don’t compare who you are with who you were cause who you are becoming is a beautiful mystery. Big hugs, Rhonda
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@rlschaller - Rhonda, thank you so very much for the nice and inspirational comments. They mean more than you might know.
The appointment went well and there are early signs that the Xeloda is likely working. That spot that showed up on my chest in December (that the onc now says is indeed officially a skin met), is almost gone and tumor markers are coming down and almost back in the normal range. Just hope all this continues for a long, long time! Fatigue continues to be my main side effect issue. None the less, I did get out for a good walk this morning - partial sun and beautiful early blooms. Very uplifting.
I really appreciate all the support from you and the others, and I am sending you back a great big 🤗 from me.
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@threetree so glad to hear the treatment is working. Hopefully there will just be an adjustment period and as the weather improves so will your/our energy levels.
It's been delightful outside this week and for the first time since October I've been able to get our for a short walk. Must ease into physical activity slowly as I've done little over the last 1 1/2 years!. 2 days i walked a half mile and 2 days I helped stack some brush from a few fallen trees. I must be more careful that I don't over do it. It's so hard when it's been habit to work outside in the garden and woods. I must continue to do my therapy and as my dr friend said i have to "train" for my spring workout. Winter isn't over yet!
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@threetree Wow, that's great news. It's so good for morale. This will give you the courage to continue playing Xeloda. I have the same dosage and frequency as you and my results have been good for 1 year. Keep up the good work with Xeloda!
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@threetree Great news! So glad the Xeloda is working and you were able to get out for a walk.
I'm off for a walk myself this afternoon-so nice to see the sun and we've hit 50!
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@gailmary - I am indeed hoping that this is just an adjustment period and that things will settle down. I just get so very tired. I just cannot imagine not being able to get out for even a short walk since October. I bet you are thrilled to be able to get out now. It's not even spring yet, but the signs are sure showing up and making time outside just wonderful. Enjoy it!
@soldanella - You are so right about how good this is for morale. It's helpful to know how well you are doing on the same dose. My oncologist said that if the response looks especially good at 3 months, he would consider lowering it. I'm fine with everything the way it is now except for being so very tired. I feel lucky to have so far not experienced any digestive or hand/foot problems. I hope you keep up your good work with Xeloda too!
@chicagoan - Thanks so much for the good wishes re the Xeloda. I hope your walk today is really nice. I just got back from a walk. Because of the fatigue that Xeloda is causing, I only went for half an hour, and on mostly flat terrain and sidewalk. I usually go for an hour on hilly and varied terrain with little sidewalked areas, but... something is definitely better than nothing, and my walk was fabulous in spite of being exhausting. We are just having an exceptionally beautiful day here; sunny and cold, but showing very inspirational signs and feelings of spring being just around the corner. Wishing you a wonderful walk too!
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Happy Sunday to all,
We are under a blizzard warning today through tomorrow, so perhaps not going out for a walk. Sleeting now as I type. As you all know, I’m a YouTube excersise lover, QiGong and short HIIT practices. I’ve started doing some lower body work again, for stamina and balance .. side leg lifts, hamstring lifts, seated squats, and toe heal calve raises, a few times a day and it’s been marvelous. Very energizing. My OT person recommended a vibration plate which she enjoys, so I ordered an inexpensive one.. I’ll keep you posted on how it feels. Supposed to be good for circulation and resilience strength building we’ll see. She finds it relaxing, so I’m looking forward to trying it. ❤️ Rhonda
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Rischaller. Same hear. It has been snowing for a while. I think things are finally cooling down and it is starting to lay. I have continued with my normal actives. Seems boring so I don't think to post. I did learn in January that my shortness of breath with exercise was not med related but a lung issue. I have been fighting this for 3 years since diagnosis. The extreme cold finally forced a referral to a pulmonologist. I couldn't breath in the cold. My right lung that had my mets became painfull when I went outside. Ct scans weren't showing anything new. Now I am working on reconditioning from the breathing issue. No more struggling to breath when doing cardio.
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@rlschaller and @brutersmom - Stay safe and warm. I hope you are both able to enjoy watching the storm from your homes, where you can cozy in and watch a relatively rare event. I love experiencing crazy weather from indoor safe places with comfort food, blankets, good music, and good company, etc. Have a great Sunday!
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