Thank you 
I’d say my non-negotiables are the same, although as I’m still on my first cycle I may need to flex as I’m working out how my body responds to this chaos.
I guess I’ve felt cautious (but yet still bloody-minded 
) because distance running means becoming accustomed to discomfort (and even feeling pretty rough) so I don’t know what to respond to and what to ignore!
Thanks for your response and advice - really helpful x
Hey all, I’ve been looking for this kind of post! Thank you so much…I’m due in for surgery next Tuesday for a mascetomyand then facing chemo once I’m recovered from that. I’m a swimmer, climber and run my own allotment, and generally very active now. I am dreading this stopping as it is also the way I manage my stress and mental health. I get that I need to rest and fully intend to do everything I can to support my recovery like that. But I’ve been struggling to find information about exercise for people who are very active pre treatment as we might need some specific advice to give us the right balance of exercises during treatment. Its reassuring to me to hear what you’re all doing.
My plan is to start walking every day when I’m back up on my feet after surgery, and start buiulding with pilates and yoga. I’ve been told no to swimming becasue of infection risk (I swim open water) and climbing - maybe 3 months once the implant has settled. My allotment is going to be something I think I can do in a couple of months and in chemo.
I wish each and everyone of you the best of luck and please keep posting your tips and advice xx
Best of luck with your surgery and treatment. I can totally empathise with the need to move and be active to manage stress and mental health. In the end, I just did what I felt was right for my body and my brain post-surgery (I had lumpectomy, so I do appreciate the recovery is somewhat different). My breast nurse said that the standard advice didn’t really apply to someone as active as me, so I should just do my own thing as I wouldn’t do any more damage. I found that helpful as it gave me the confidence to trust my body and my own reactions. The first few runs I did whilst wearing 2 sports bras, so tbh any pain was probably masked by feeling like I was wearing a corset
I’m about to have my second AC chemo and am applying the same principle. I can’t let this thing take running away from me, but I accept that running may be slower/shorter than before.
Good luck and all the best xx
I’m glad I found this thread, I’m a runner and have just started back running after surgery and my first chemo. Fab to see others who are trying to keep running through chemo.
It took longer to heal from my mastectomy and DIEP flap than I expected and I have had one lot of EC chemo end of June, but I started back run/walking this week and it’s really cheered me up! I have lost a lot of fitness in three months but I’m so happy to have got back out there. I’m hoping to get out and do what I can this coming week and then I have EC number two on Friday. I will have to see how I feel and when I can get back out there but it’s just nice to know there’s others on here determined to try and run through this crappy treatment!
I’m also cold capping to try and keep my hair if possible - but I think it’s going to be a bit incompatible with running as I sweat a lot and then want to wash my hair. If it comes to it I am prioritising running over keeping my hair but for now I’m attempting to have both (I know, it’s a terrible trait to think we can have everything but really, wanting to keep running and keep nice hair isn’t too much to ask for surely!). Wishing you all so much success in your running through chemo x
Hi @runnerjen - I’m in the June 2025 thread, and I think you are too? Fair play to you getting back into it with run/walking. Similarly I feel that this shit show has taken so much from me, I will fight as hard as I can rather than let it take running from me too. I told my ANP this before AC #2 this week and I think she was a bit taken aback
Wishing you all the best with your return to running - take care in the heat too xx
Thanks! Yes I am in the fab June group! I am keeping my expectations super low for running, just glad for any day I manage to get out there and shuffle a bit! Hopefully you can also keep it up or get back to it soon.
I’m definitely going to be more careful than ever in terms of hydration, sun block & wearing kit that covers more, and just going easy. Having not run since March it was blissful to get out there, although I lost so much fitness in that time. So for me it’s low expectations and real gratitude for anything that I am able to do. Just hope I’m not completely deluded thinking about running a bit during chemo!
I continued running all through EC and successfully cold capped. I washed my hair everyday- just washed it through with warm water in the shower- shampoo twice a week and never massaged shampoo in, just smoothed it. Hair thinned but was more than happy with that xx