← Return to Exercise during chemo

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Exercise during chemo

Cancer: Managing Symptoms | Last Active: Feb 20 7:40am | Replies (142)

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@wendeth

Thanks for the offer of assistance, @georger. I have breast cancer, and had been a runner for a year (ran a half marathon). During chemo, I walked instead of ran, trying to get my walking pace under 14 minutes per mile. Great for my body and my mind, being with my running and walking teammates. A few weeks after chemo ended, I started adding some running, and then 6 weeks after chemo I walked an ran another half marathon!
The following year I advanced to metastatic breast cancer. Chemo again, maybe more intense. I kept running instead of backing off to walking. After a month of chemo and running, I fainted while running! Fortunately it was during a group run, and people helped me to a local hospital. Lots of tests but few answers as to why I fainted. A month off from running, then started running again (after a clear EEG). Within a week, I fainted while running again! Months later I had a seizure while on a 24-hour EEG - in a new town and hospital, but following up from my fainting-while-running. Now I'm on anti-seizure medicine. Maybe my fainting-while-running was due to seizures, but there were no immediate indications of seizures. I think it was the combination of running and chemo. I've heard of people running marathons while on chemo, but apparently we can't all do that (or they're on different chemo). Anyway, exercise is definitely great for some of us during chemo. I continued walking a lot during the rest of my chemo - again, great for my body and mind. Sometimes there are challenges. Running is hard, and was easy to replace with active walking. Like many cancer situations, it's different for each of us. Much wisdom to you - and healing, after cancer. Oh, and there's an exercise program for cancer patients called Livestrong - a variety of exercises with a group that recognizes people's limitations - very good!

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Replies to "Thanks for the offer of assistance, @georger. I have breast cancer, and had been a runner..."

Boy you have had a journey.As you said, everyone is different and unique in there treatment and recovery but overall I think it has been great for your mind and body that you have kept exercising during your treatment and recovery. You might try bicycling or another activity that would give you the benefits but might not have the complications associated with running. And I'm all in on Livestrong and I have my yellow bracelet on as we speak. Best of luck and keep moving. And thanks for sharing!!

I just signed up for a live strong program at the YMCA in scottsdale. It begins 9/17 and runs 12 weeks. Tuesdays and thursdays 12-1pm. If you’re interested, email jack White at jackdanawhite@cox.net. To get more details. He’s the trainer and this is his 7th time running the 12 week program at the Y. Hope to see some of you there!