Exercise during chemo

Hi @lisal64 and others who are looking for motivation to keep moving. Did you see the virtual walking group that @becsbuddy is starting on March 1. Join others who are walking together in all corners of the country and the world. It really helps to have a walking partner, even virtually.

Check it out and post a message to say you're in here:
- Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lets-go-walking-join-me-for-a-virtual-walking-support-group/

I had stage 4 colon cancer (mets to liver). When I was going through chemo, I made sure to work out the morning of an infusion day.

I recall seeing some articles that exercising can sometimes help make chemo more effective and help prevent muscle atrophy that can sometimes occur. I believe it helped me.

I often tell people that CrossFit and chemotherapy saved my life because I did not seek out or undergo any non-conventional treatments or therapies. Now, I had been working out and was in great shape before starting to decline and, ultimately, being diagnosed, so that starting state certainly helped me endure things as well. It was also wonderful to just be in the moment and focused on exercise for a little while instead of constantly thinking about cancer, so it was also a nice mental break in addition to any physical benefits. My friends at the gym were also phenomenal in terms of support, both moral and real world, e.g. meal trains, financially and any other way you can think of. It would have been a lot more difficult without their support.

Anyway, I know this is an old thread, but I just joined the site and thought I'd share my experience with this topic. Best wishes to those still going through it. Do what you can when you can, but never feel bad if it's all too much for you at times.

illinoismike - keep exercising!! I am still going with stage IV cancer and I truly believe my lifetime of exercise has pulled me through some very rough treatments over the last 6 years!

I am a two-time breast cancer survivor and found that my regular gym routine helped tremendously, both physically and mentally. Even though chemo caused sometimes a great deal of fatigue, I was grateful for the routine of getting to the gym, something that had been an important lifestyle choice since my 20's. Even if I could not complete a full workout, I was determined to do as much as I could.

I am struggling to have the energy and I’m worried that I will be knock down if I do any strength training but I seriously fee my muscles atrophying! I’m 38 and typically an athlete. However, I was tested for BRCA mutation in June, positive for BRCA 1, had a complete hysterectomy with oopherectomy then 2 weeks later found a lump and started on the process of diagnosing and treating My breast cancer. So my activity level has been pretty much running after kids and day to day activities to get by since then.
I’d love any help you can give on ideas to stop the loss of muscle and keep myself in as good of shape as possible. Not looking forward to starting over when this is all said and done.

I am sorry for your recent medical challenges. I am 59 and a two-time breast cancer survivor who, like you, was used to nearly-daily gym workouts. Like you as well, I had an oopherectomy almost two and a half years ago as well. I found that doing small workouts kept me focused on physical health and helped me believe that returning to normal physical activity would not be quite so challenging if I did just a little in the gym. Try doing just a few leg lifts or arm curls [if you have been cleared by your doctor to do so], or get on the treadmill and elliptical for 10 minutes rather than 30 or 40. I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you, that is helpful!

@ahurlbert30, something is better than nothing. Cancer fatigue makes it really hard. Maybe you can incorporate intentional movements in your daily activities. For example, after putting in a load of laundry, do 5 arm lifts overhead. Or loading the dishwasher, squat to lift items out of the bottom drawer instead of bending. Don't over do it, but adding a few different movements throughout can help, especially doing movements that are different from the norm.

Any other ideas?

Those are great ideas! Thank you.

Here are links to some videos that you may find helpful:

This is information for cancer related fatigue:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/cancer-education-center/tab/reducing-fatigue/
This talks about physical activity and the benefits for all of us, especially cancer patients. Small doses are still advantageous to our health!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/cancer-education-center/tab/physical-activity/
Hopefully this will be helpful to you!
Megan