@dubicaju there were many days when I felt good and it wasn’t a problem to push myself - but I did sometimes regret it the next day. One day high on steroids I did 35,000 steps! Next day I was pretty exhausted. So listening to your body isn’t always the answer! I know it’s a cliche but moderation in everything is probably the answer. I was lucky and had very few low energy/motivation days. But I think if you can try to view a little bit of exercise as an element of your medicine (I view good the same way) maybe that will help.
Hi everyone, long post alert. sorry! I just wanted to pop on here and give those starting out on this journey some encouragement. Back in February I was told I’d need a lumpectomy with flap recon, I had to go back to theatre the next day because of a heamatoma.
After a long wait results showed they didn’t get clear margins so it was back to theatre for a mastectomy I decided to stay flat and fabulous.
Back then running or any kind of exercise felt a long way off. A colonoscopy followed the week after radiotherapy finished to rule out bowel cancer thankfully it was a polyp but to me it was another worry, another procedure. A routine CT scan because of the size of the breast cancer cells showed kidney lesions so I’m on the referral list to see a urologist and still waiting on results of a CT scan where they identified a spot on my lungs.
Anyway now I’m in week 10/18 to run the Chicago Marathon in October and overall I feel pretty amazing, last week I did a 9 mile run slow and steady just the way I want my running to be now.
I have been blessed to secure a London Marathon place next year running for Breast Cancer Now.
Oncologist wanted me to go on targeted therapy with some other tablets but I’ve chosen my own path of eating well and exercising regularly the side effects for me outweighed what I considered to be a small benefit after having surgery, radiotherapy and hormone blockers.
So yes certainly for me exercise has helped my recovery so much and good luck to everyone and remember any exercise no matter how small will bring benefits. If you can’t exercise for now as I couldn’t for 7 weeks hang in there you will get there!
Hi all. In answer to the ‘tough days’ question @dubicaju I’m not sure. Firstly, don’t be hard on yourself, would be sane advice. On days i felt worse with chemo i did run less.
I asked a friend to run with me sometimes. This was good because I often went when i wouldn’t otherwise have done (pouring rain and in the dark in winter).
From the day of the results i started setting challenges to mirror treatment. This was very uplifting. I ran a half marathon each EC chemotherapy cycle, and 10km to each radiotherapy session for eg. This meant after each stage I had a dip and almost lost momentum to push on. The hardest was when i was fully back in work with joint pains and no clear horizon to aim for.
Now im 1 yr after starting chemo. 6 months into letrazole im looking for new exercise motivation. Yesterday I ran the same route as the run i did the day of first chemo.
This week I ran a 50mile trail ultra. Ive been riding my bike lots too.
Awesome re London and Chicago @ljsdreams222
Regarding letrazole i don’t love the joint pains.
Hope this encourages someone.
@outdoorsy thats very inspirational! Ref letrozole, what’s the joint pain like? And any other side effects? I’m debating whether to take it or not…I’m not keen. Especially as a serial exerciser! Any insight most welcome ![]()
Sorry to jump on this thread @sam1204 but have you tried anastrozole its similar but slightly less aggressive I’ve been taking Anastrozole now for six months and touch wood no joint pain may be worth looking into x