Regaining fitness after cancer treatment

twnkltoz

All told, my cancer treatments took about nine months from chemo to surgery to radiation. I spent most of that time in bed, except during the breaks between treatments, because I was always exhausted. Exercise, other than the occasional slow walk around the block or grocery shopping trip, was out of the question. But as soon as radiation was over and the fatigue and blisters started to fade, I started slowly exercising and working myself up. Progress is frustratingly slow, despite what I feel are my best efforts. I get some kind of exercise (running, swimming, weights) 5-6 days per week, and although I can do the workout I assign myself and my stamina for doing the work keeps improving, my recovery is not. I end up being tired all afternoon, and sometimes I'm wrecked for the rest of the day...beyond what it was like when I was "normal." 

I know this is to be expected, my body's been through a lot blah blah blah. I'm not beating myself up about it, because I'm doing the best I can. But the question is...how long will it be like this? How long do you feel it took you to get back to some semblance of your former fitness?

peony

I feel you

I ended radiation in May and I'm in the same boat. One of the nurses at chemo told me that the steriods they were using would weaken my muscles and boy, was she right!  I walk as much as possible and have signed up for an exercise/diet program on my job. So far, I still feel pretty weak and still have an occasional day when my energy level is like a 3 out of 10.  The good news is that I think the CIPN in my hands is improving a little, so I have hope. I spoke to a counsellor at the cancer center and she said in a year I'll be a different person.  I'm holding her to that!

Puffin2014

Live Strong

If you have a YMCA in your area check if they have a Live Strong program fro cancer survivors. It's a free program, you meet with a group of other survivors (max of 10) and trainers experienced with cancer survivors. We met twice a week for 1 1/2 hours, and could use the YMCA facilities free for the 3 months of the classes. They individualize each person's workout to meet their needs, including both cardio and strength and balance. I made unbelievable progress in those 3 months. You can bring someone with you to the classes as well.

peony

That sounds great!

I checked with the Y near me and that program is not available. But I'm not detered. I'll keep working on it.

Clementine_P

One year

My oncologist told me it would be about a year before I felt like my former self when it came to exercise.    I think that was the outer limit.  I know that in about 6 months I could certainly achieve my old work outs without feeling totally wasted but I didn't have my full compliment of energy until about 9 months after treatment.  Keep trying, it comes back but it does so slowly.  Just know that as the days go by you will continue to recover bit by bit.  

Double Whammy

It gets better

 First, I think it's amazing that you can do what you do.  Congratulations.  I recovered quickly BUT it is 5 1/2 years since I completed all treatments (had 2 surgeries, one for breast cancer which was a lumpectomy and one for endometrial cancer which was a complete hysterectomy, then chemo, then rads).  I feel really good  but I still get tired in the afternoon after I exercise in the morning and it makes me really cranky to feel tired.  I'm not sure it's the result of treatments, tho, as it has been a long time.  The thing is with each passing year, we get a year older.  Initially I was so enthusiastic about doing all the right things to be as healthy as I could be - just in case.  Now I exercise and eat right (most of the time) because it's just the right thing to do.  I feel and look so much better than most of my friends because I do what I do IMHO.  Just had my 69th birthday and I believe that because I am active and eating well, I have improved my quality of life under any circumstances.  Cancer just gave me the incentive I guess.   As Chen always said, "we keep doing what we have to so we can keep doing what we want to".  Keep on keeping on with the healthy lifestyle.  You impress me with what you are doing.  I do have the luxury of taking a nap some days, but I just hate missing out on anything!

Suzanne

punkinpie

one year

I started feeling better a year after treatment. two years and I felt almost back to my old self. I still don't have the stamina I used to have. My new normal. 

twnkltoz

Thanks for weighing in,

Thanks for weighing in, ladies. I don't know if the nine months to a year answer is depressing or liberating! But I guess it's good to know I'm normal. I ran a 5k on Saturday, and it was great. My fastest place since I've been back. I'll just have to keep working on it and try to be patient.

Tataque11

Accepting new me

I was finished all my treatment and radical mastectomy 2012. My first year out of treatment I still had energy to exercise ..and I thought, wow, I am back to normal.

Long story short, It wasnt the same at all. I learned to accept the changes hardly. I felt tired very easily ( I was very strong person before chemo and exercised almost every day. Even when I was in chemo I still went to work every other week.), and if I forced myself to be more active and productive, the end of the day I would  felt exhausted and sick. I now learned  to to do one thing at the time . It was much slower pace, but I am at peace after accepted my new me.