Exercise

LeoS2323
LeoS2323 Member Posts: 160
edited April 2012 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
After feeling a bit low yesterday, I did my first 5k run on the treadmill since diagnosis a week ago today and I feel like I can take the world on again now!

What do people with H&N do for exercise? Seems that these days research suggests it is really good to keep exercising, even (if possible) some light exercise through treatment to help the body from becoming too weak and aiding recovery time.

Our particular cancer in itself I guess often doesn't cause the kind of debilitating tiredness and body damage others do, so we can do it.

Has anyone been able to keep up some exercise throughout treatment (radio or chemo)? Would you recommend it? Is there anything we should avoid? Definitely going to keep working hard to keep my body as fit as it can be to fight until my operation in 3 weeks now!

All the best everyone

Leo

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    Your expectations are admirable, but
    I just finished reading an article that advocates exercise to counteract fatigue? Sounds insane I know. The truth is that your body will be your guide but being predisposed to the idea of exercise is half the battle to any exercise regime as most folks find the idea of deliberate exercise dis-tasteful. I ran several miles every other day pre-treatment and through my first chemo. (Cisplatin every 21 days) It should be noted that I have been a runner most of my adult life to some degree. Do not just head out the door in jogging shorts! Personally it was a psychological triumph to my Psyche that I was not totally dying because of the diagnosis. It quickly goes down hill after the first three weeks as energy levels plummet. There are so many detrimental changes going on internally with your blood and the effects of the chemo and all the side effects of various other medications that you just will not be able to do a 5k. Nutrition for day to day bodily funtion is crucial at this stage. In fact it can be downright dangerous for medical reasons as well as you just might not see that dip in the concrete or that moving treadmill might make you really sick. Toward the end of my treatment, third dose of cisplatin and 39th radiation treatment I felt more like the walking dead. Head and neck cancer treatment is one of the worst treatment regimes out there and you need to re-evaluate your expectation. At a minimum I could at least walk for 10 minutes at a time. You will find your personal comfort zone. I am a big advocate of yoga on this site and it may be something you can experiment with later on. My best to you!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Exercise
    Leo, I would presume you can continue with whatever you have strength and stamina for (be cautious though, don't over do it).... But also, your statement above is not entirely correct.

    While the cancer itself may not cause you fatigue and weakening, more than likely the chemo and radiation will...especially when you are at the point of struggling to get enough calories into you, and hydration is huge, stay very well hydrated.

    For me, I walked a lot, road my bike, I also did the treadmill...additionally I still would take the boat out and enjoy the fresh air, a little fishing (usually with my wife or a buddy), and just getting into my own comfort zone and forgetting about treatment, cancer and all the crap that goes with it for a few hours.

    I still did my yardwork, mowing, trim work, weed eating, blower, etc.... Eventually being summer in Florida, I had to farm that out for a month or so near the middle to end of the rads and a few weeks after.

    Best,
    John
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    Just do the best you can
    I ran a 10k just before my chemo started. I kept walking when i could, but there were some problems even with that. Not just low energy, but I got enough rads to my sinuses that trying to walk outside in ccold weather was about impossible. My eyes and sinuses just flowed. To the point I was blinded. It made outdoor exercise impossible. Five weeks out from rads, that effect seems gone. I'm walking three miles a day in the mountains now, hoping I can get back to running before long. Right now, running is impossible. I still have oral ulcers, and jogging my molars into the dang things hurts enough i would not want to do it.

    Just do the best you can. That's all I can say. It will probably take me a year or so to regain what I've lost, but I will regain it. After all, I've ddone it before.

    Oh, and I'm doing Tai chi twice a week. That has absolutely put an end to the neck spasms I was experiencing. what was it hal said about Tai chi? It is a martial art for those on seconal. Anyway, I highly recommend.

    Pat
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #5
    Exercise
    Walk...swim...just no heavy lifting over my head so says my onco because of the power port in my chest.

    Linda
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    osmotar said:

    Exercise
    Walk...swim...just no heavy lifting over my head so says my onco because of the power port in my chest.

    Linda

    Port...
    LOL, it's funny...I had my port in for 2 1/2 years. At first I was always aware of it and careful.

    After enough time, it never limited me... I was loading unloading the boat, all yard work, climbing laders, heaving a 20# anchor and anchor chain several times while fishing, and hauling a lot of big grouper over the gunnels....

    But I was definitely glad to finally be deported.....

    JG
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #7
    Exercise, before and after
    Anything you can do to help your body be stronger before treatments begin will pay dividends once treatments start. And, as soon as you are able, start being physically active during your treatments. "As soon as you are able" will be different for everyone, so listen to your body--but don't be afraid to "push it" a bit. I have been a runner nearly all my adult life, and my chemo + rads knocked me out of running for several weeks. But at some point my mind told my body that "exercise is medicine" and I started to take walks again. The first walk was so short that I didn't lose sight of my house, but I gradually made them longer and longer. And, the fresh spring air and warm sun on my face felt really good.

    I eventually got back to running and set a goal to enter a 10K event as a way to keep myself motivated. That worked well. Since then I've had a few periods when follow up treatments (like HBO)did not allow me to run, but I've been pretty steady at it for three years.
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #8
    exercise
    What has not been mentioned yet, unless I missed it, is the importance of exercise for your psychological/emotional well-being. You sound way ahead of the game with respect to exercise, but even for those who ARE fatigued or otherwise unable to run 5Ks or 10Ks or marathons, I would recommend walks around the block, walks with the dog, walks in the mall, even walks around the house, believe it or not, although there is much to be said for the great outdoors and interacting with others.

    I'm not sure this one has been emphasized either: hydration is critical, but you probably know that, as a runner.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Port...
    LOL, it's funny...I had my port in for 2 1/2 years. At first I was always aware of it and careful.

    After enough time, it never limited me... I was loading unloading the boat, all yard work, climbing laders, heaving a 20# anchor and anchor chain several times while fishing, and hauling a lot of big grouper over the gunnels....

    But I was definitely glad to finally be deported.....

    JG

    Portals...LOL
    I asked when I first got my port how long I would have it after treatments ended and was told 2 years...I asked the onco nurse while she was flushing last week she said most keep it in at least 8 months after treatment, but she said heck if it doesn't bother me why not keep it, and I don't have any issues with it , except making myself a note to get it flushed every 6 weeks. My granddaughter asked the other day how my bump as she calls it was.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #10
    osmotar said:

    Portals...LOL
    I asked when I first got my port how long I would have it after treatments ended and was told 2 years...I asked the onco nurse while she was flushing last week she said most keep it in at least 8 months after treatment, but she said heck if it doesn't bother me why not keep it, and I don't have any issues with it , except making myself a note to get it flushed every 6 weeks. My granddaughter asked the other day how my bump as she calls it was.

    Flushed....
    Yes, I got tired of having to go in and have it flushed, and remembering too...LOL.

    A few weeks ago, I took it with me when doing a blood follow-up visit. I told the nurses I was here to get my port flushed...., LOL...then I help my hand out with the port, made for a good laugh.

    JG
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #11
    EXCERCISE DURING TREATMENT
    I was a competitive powerlifter and also played in a mens Ice Hockey league two nights a week. Like you, I planned on keeping my same level of activity up while in treatment, but quickly realized I set an un acheivable goal for myself. At my sickest point, it was all I could do just to walk to the bathroom and come back, that exhausted me. I would walk laps around my Greatroom and Kitchen, and then progressed out side and walked to my neighbors mail box and back, and then each day tried to go to the next mailbox, so on and so forth. It was 3 months after treatment ended that I made my first trip back to the gym. The photo of me on the leg sled was from my workout yesterday. One year ago, all I could do was move the sled a few times with NO WEIGHT on it. It has taken that long to progress to 720 Lbs. That is still only 1/2 of what I used to to before getting sick.

    I am very happy with my progress, and am a huge believer in pushing yourself to failure.

    Good luck and keep as active as you possible can.

    Mike
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #12
    luv4lacrosse said:

    EXCERCISE DURING TREATMENT
    I was a competitive powerlifter and also played in a mens Ice Hockey league two nights a week. Like you, I planned on keeping my same level of activity up while in treatment, but quickly realized I set an un acheivable goal for myself. At my sickest point, it was all I could do just to walk to the bathroom and come back, that exhausted me. I would walk laps around my Greatroom and Kitchen, and then progressed out side and walked to my neighbors mail box and back, and then each day tried to go to the next mailbox, so on and so forth. It was 3 months after treatment ended that I made my first trip back to the gym. The photo of me on the leg sled was from my workout yesterday. One year ago, all I could do was move the sled a few times with NO WEIGHT on it. It has taken that long to progress to 720 Lbs. That is still only 1/2 of what I used to to before getting sick.

    I am very happy with my progress, and am a huge believer in pushing yourself to failure.

    Good luck and keep as active as you possible can.

    Mike

    Love it!
    I love your "mailbox progression"!! Mine was not much more than that--very short to start with, and a very gradual progression. Joe mentioned the psychological benefits and I couldn't agree more. Even when the beast has it tightest grip on us, we can fight back by just putting one foot in front of the other a few times every day (or as often as possible).

    Mike

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