Exercise during treatment

Jimbo55
Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
There have been a few recent studies that have shown that moderate exercise during treatment can be quite beneficial to those going through this ordeal of ours. Moderate exercise being defined as 20-30 minutes / day of walking, yoga, easy bike riding etc. A couple of points I noted from these studies: There is less fatigue experienced in those that continue moderate exercise. Appetite is increased somewhat. There are less severe side effects during treatment.

Myself, I have always been a jogger, swimmer, sports enthusiast. I have continued to try and walk 30-45 minutes each morning (not always, sometimes its raining here pretty hard!). So far, with 15 Rads remaining and 1 more chemo, I am not feeling too bad....yet.

So my question to my fellow travelers is what was your routine during your treatment? Did you try and exercise? Did you feel it helped? Some of us have had an easier journey than others, could moderate exercise be part of that? Please, comments are welcome from one and all.

Cheers,
Jimbo

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Exercise
    I road my bike a few miles, treadmill and walked somewhat routinely during treatment. Not sure if it helped me or not, but it was nice in allowing me to share time with my wife and also solitude to reflect and just be somewhat normal.
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Exercise
    I road my bike a few miles, treadmill and walked somewhat routinely during treatment. Not sure if it helped me or not, but it was nice in allowing me to share time with my wife and also solitude to reflect and just be somewhat normal.

    Walking & Weights
    Jimbo,
    I did light weights thru about week 3, then had to give them up. I tried walking every day thoughout and pretty much kept to that. Even though by the end of treatment, I would be lucky to go 1/2 mile. I think it helped me, but who knows. 3 months out and I'm back to walking and lifting again. Looking to incorporate TaiChi into my routine also. Just looking for a good place to learn right now.
    Positive thoughts to everyone!
    Greg
  • davidgskinner
    davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
    #4
    Greg53 said:

    Walking & Weights
    Jimbo,
    I did light weights thru about week 3, then had to give them up. I tried walking every day thoughout and pretty much kept to that. Even though by the end of treatment, I would be lucky to go 1/2 mile. I think it helped me, but who knows. 3 months out and I'm back to walking and lifting again. Looking to incorporate TaiChi into my routine also. Just looking for a good place to learn right now.
    Positive thoughts to everyone!
    Greg

    walking...
    I tried to walk every day during treatment. It varied from few miles to barely down the street and back. But I believe it helped a lot. Just getting out was good, but elevating my heart rate and breathing harder definitely made me feel better afterwards. I also am three months out and have discovered yoga. Wish I had tried it during treatment. There is a person here in San Diego who is a cancer survivor who teaches a weekly yoga class for people with cancer. It is really amazing to relearn how to breathe and stretch after the stress of treatment. Maybe other cities have something similar...
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #5
    davidgskinner said:

    walking...
    I tried to walk every day during treatment. It varied from few miles to barely down the street and back. But I believe it helped a lot. Just getting out was good, but elevating my heart rate and breathing harder definitely made me feel better afterwards. I also am three months out and have discovered yoga. Wish I had tried it during treatment. There is a person here in San Diego who is a cancer survivor who teaches a weekly yoga class for people with cancer. It is really amazing to relearn how to breathe and stretch after the stress of treatment. Maybe other cities have something similar...

    Treadmill
    I bought a treadmill and used it everyday. No question that it helped me a lot. Started at a mile and now walk 2 miles and run a 1/2 mile at different inclines. Also do sit ups, push ups deep knee bends and toe touching.

    Best,
    Steve
  • lady4darknight
    lady4darknight Member Posts: 90 Member
    #6
    stevenl said:

    Treadmill
    I bought a treadmill and used it everyday. No question that it helped me a lot. Started at a mile and now walk 2 miles and run a 1/2 mile at different inclines. Also do sit ups, push ups deep knee bends and toe touching.

    Best,
    Steve

    Therapy
    Hi, I had ongoing physical therapy during my treatment where they had me ride a bike for about 20 min everyday. I was feeling good then came home and didn't move and started feeling really bad. For the past 8 days have been back walking about 30 min everyday and feeling much better. No doubt for me being active is helping me feel better and regain my strength and have very little fatigue now.

    Debbie
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #7
    excercise
    I am very new with the cancer, but have always lifeted weights. Used to be a competitive Powerlifter. I am a beliver in having as much good muscle mass as possible as this has to be a good thing when I start to get sick from my treatment in the near future. I am also eating pretty much the same way as I know being able to have some lbs available to lose will be a good thing.

    Does anyone know if too much excercise can aggrevate anything?? I know eventually I will have to give up the weights and my be lucky just to have the energy to use my treadmill at home.

    Best!!

    Mike
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #8
    luv4lacrosse said:

    excercise
    I am very new with the cancer, but have always lifeted weights. Used to be a competitive Powerlifter. I am a beliver in having as much good muscle mass as possible as this has to be a good thing when I start to get sick from my treatment in the near future. I am also eating pretty much the same way as I know being able to have some lbs available to lose will be a good thing.

    Does anyone know if too much excercise can aggrevate anything?? I know eventually I will have to give up the weights and my be lucky just to have the energy to use my treadmill at home.

    Best!!

    Mike

    Just do it till you no longer can
    I did lots of walking with my wife just to spend time together and talk and cry about daily treatments and cancer stuff. I also lifted weights and did some jogging. You will just stop and won't even think about it at some point you just know. Until then it can't hurt anything as long as you maintain nutrition and weight. Go for IT!
  • micktissue
    micktissue Member Posts: 430
    #9
    excercise
    I held off exercise during treatment because chemo drugs go after cells that have fast absorption. I didn't want to risk losing any healthy muscle mass to the chemo by working them all out. That was recommended to me by my surgeon brother who went through chemo 20years ago.

    Now that I'm 14 weeks post-treatment I'm going tonight to my first 24Hr Fitness session with my new coach Emily who is an "expert" with cancer survivors. We'll see.

    Best,

    Mick
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #10
    No pain no grain
    I worked out regularly for 35 years before I started treatment. A couple of months post treatment I started walking a bit each day, but fatigue has dogged me since, nearing month four of post. Now I crawl out of bed, flop on the couch, push myself off the floor, and amble from room to room to feed and care for myself. I also spend a bit of time jumping out of my skin, and flipping out. I do drive when necessary for med appts and supplies. I hope to get back to excersize when healed from my upcoming partial neck dissection. I am pro excersize and encourage anyone in ongoing recovery to do as much as they are able.

    Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #11
    No pain no grain
    I worked out regularly for 35 years before I started treatment. A couple of months post treatment I started walking a bit each day, but fatigue has dogged me since, nearing month four of post. Now I crawl out of bed, flop on the couch, push myself off the floor, and amble from room to room to feed and care for myself. I also spend a bit of time jumping out of my skin, and flipping out. I do drive when necessary for med appts and supplies. I hope to get back to excersize when healed from my upcoming partial neck dissection. I am pro excersize and encourage anyone in ongoing recovery to do as much as they are able.

    Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #12
    No pain no grain
    I worked out regularly for 35 years before I started treatment. A couple of months post treatment I started walking a bit each day, but fatigue has dogged me since, nearing month four of post. Now I crawl out of bed, flop on the couch, push myself off the floor, and amble from room to room to feed and care for myself. I also spend a bit of time jumping out of my skin, and flipping out. I do drive when necessary for med appts and supplies. I hope to get back to excersize when healed from my upcoming partial neck dissection. I am pro excersize and encourage anyone in ongoing recovery to do as much as they are able.

    Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #13
    No pain no pain
    I worked out regularly for 35 years before I started treatment. A couple of months post treatment I started walking a bit each day, but fatigue has dogged me since, nearing month four of post. Now I crawl out of bed, flop on the couch, push myself off the floor, and amble from room to room to feed and care for myself. I also spend a bit of time jumping out of my skin, and flipping out. I do drive when necessary for med appts and supplies. I hope to get back to excersize when healed from my upcoming partial neck dissection. I am pro excersize and encourage anyone in ongoing recovery to do as much as they are able.

    Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #14
    No pain no pain
    I worked out regularly for 35 years before I started treatment. A couple of months post treatment I started walking a bit each day, but fatigue has dogged me since, nearing month four of post. Now I crawl out of bed, flop on the couch, push myself off the floor, and amble from room to room to feed and care for myself. I also spend a bit of time jumping out of my skin, and flipping out. I do drive when necessary for med appts and supplies. I hope to get back to excersize when healed from my upcoming partial neck dissection. I am pro excersize and encourage anyone in ongoing recovery to do as much as they are able.

    Hal
  • greg from pa
    greg from pa Member Posts: 86
    #15
    I have not done much of
    I have not done much of anything physical since treatment started july 1st. I finally decided to take a 20 minuite walk with my 8 year old duughter and the dog.We got caught in the rain and had good fun together! I know now that I am going to have to keep doing something.Even if it,s for mental well being. Greg
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #16
    micktissue said:

    excercise
    I held off exercise during treatment because chemo drugs go after cells that have fast absorption. I didn't want to risk losing any healthy muscle mass to the chemo by working them all out. That was recommended to me by my surgeon brother who went through chemo 20years ago.

    Now that I'm 14 weeks post-treatment I'm going tonight to my first 24Hr Fitness session with my new coach Emily who is an "expert" with cancer survivors. We'll see.

    Best,

    Mick

    very interesting
    Mick, I will definitely run this by my medical team. I did not think of it that way, but it does make sense.

    Thanks for posting this.

    Mike
  • micktissue
    micktissue Member Posts: 430
    #17
    greg from pa said:

    I have not done much of
    I have not done much of anything physical since treatment started july 1st. I finally decided to take a 20 minuite walk with my 8 year old duughter and the dog.We got caught in the rain and had good fun together! I know now that I am going to have to keep doing something.Even if it,s for mental well being. Greg

    sweet excercise
    I often think about what my children (6 and 9) went through during my treatment. I assume a lot of stress and anxiety, so now I try to spend more one on one time with them and take advantage of 'normal' moments, like being caught in the rain. I think this time together will help normalize things and bit to lessen the accumulated stress and worry. I think it is good for them to see me positive, smiling, and happy to be with them. I think what we do for our "well being" can have a significantly positive impact on those closest to us.

    I love your story Greg and find a lot of inspiration in it.

    Best,

    Mick

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