Hi Ladies,
I finish my chemo at the end of March and wanted to start swimming as soon as my blood count is up. Does anyone know whether it is ok to swim after chemo and more importantly is it ok to swim whilst having radiotherapy?
I have a pool I can use by the hospital so was hoping to go for a swim on my way home from radiotherapy.
Any advice would be most appreciated.
Foxy x
Hi FoxyLoxy
You would have to ask your team about swimming. But I have swum through all my chemo and radiotherapy, as I find it so relaxing. Luckily my oncologist thinks you should carry on life pretty much as normal, and I have been swimming through 4 lots of chemos over the years and never caught anything, but I am aware that some oncologists feel differently
Marmite x
I think that they often worry about the drying effect of chlorine on your skin if you swim during rads. Apart from that it may depend on how well your skin holds up. It may be that you can swim during the first week or so but not after that, or not if/when your skin starts a reaction.
I was told no swimming once rads had started, but I know someone who swam for the first 2 weeks making sure to have a good shower and lots of aqueous cream afterwards. After that, she started to get a skin reaction to the radiotherapy and was advised to stop. The radiographers are often very good at picking up how your skin is doing so if you are swimming, probably they will tell you if you need to stop.
Perhaps the best thing to do is ask when you go for rads planning as you get given all sorts of information then and a chance to ask questions.
Eliza xx