Back on track

[Deleted User]

Hi Everyone, now my active treatment of chemo and rads has finished, I started with a personal trainer today. It felt so good to start physical exercise again, as I used to be really active prior to my mastectomy. I tried to keep walking while undergoing treatment, but had a lot of days where I was too unwell to leave the house. I'm really excited to get going again, my husband even knocked the cobwebs off my push bike, so now all of my excuses have dried up. I've started taking Arimidex and so am very determined to manage my weight during the next 5 years while I'm on it. My trainer has put together an at home program for me to do on other days, and it is fitted around recovery of strength and function in my right arm. Awesome, Trace ??????

Kazzi

Hi Tracey,

Fantastic about getting a personal trainer, to keep the motivation. That's great about finishing rads now. How did your skin hold up? I'm about to start radiotherapy tomorrow for 25 sessions. Then it will most probably be tamoxifen for me. I'm now feeling the effects of the chemo, with my ovaries under stress, I've started the hot flushes. But I'm trying to view it in a positive light as the less  those hormones in my body, less chance of dreaded cells  (if there are any there) replicating.

I've been walking most days and started weekly yoga with some other bc girls. But today the weather looks nasty so it's school holidays retail therapy with my teenage daughter!!   

Glad to hear you're in the recovery and strengthening stage. You go girl!

Karen xx

 

[Deleted User]

Thanks Karen, day 1 after first workout and not holding up too badly. Thought that I'd be sore, there's a little bit there but not too bad. Glad to hear that you are exercising with your walking and yoga, keep it up during your rads, as it does help you feel less fatigued. Rads was not as bad as I thought it might be. The staff at the radiology unit are marvellous, and they monitor your skin. Make sure you keep your skin moisturised, as that helps. My skin is brownish pink and a little bit peeling in places. It is certainly healing, and these things just take time. Another test of patience. Hoping that your rads go well for you, take care, Trace ??????

Jane221

Hi Trace, that's brilliant, so good to start now with an appropriate program designed just for you that will also help you recover strength and function in your arm. Getting active again is such an important step towards recovery, so good on you! Best wishes, Jane xx  

LisaS

Ooh. I'm so jealous! I can't wait to exercise properly again.

two questions:

how do you do yoga with a weakish right arm?

does your personal trainer have experience working with breast cancer patients? If so, how did you find them?

tx

L

[Deleted User]

Thanks Jane ??????

[Deleted User]

Hi Lisa, I developed cording in my armpit and was referred to a special physio who works with lymphoedema and cording. She has been working on my arm and breaking up some of the scar tissue. I told her that I was going to start with a personal trainer, and she gave me guidelines about exercises that will help, and what exercises to avoid. There might be someone in your area that can help, or just talk to a local physio. My physio is in Melbourne area. Warmest wishes, Trace ????

Kazzi

Hi Lisa,

I do yoga at the hospital with other cancer patients.  I had a short consult prior to check my mobility and strength and adaptations are always made during the lesson. There are also the Encore programs run by the YWCA who have an  8 week exercise and info program.

Kazzi

Thanks Tracey, I've been using the moogoo. Learning to be patient to start so I get it all done! It's all a process. Karen xx

LisaS

Thanks Tracey and Kazzi.

I'm in Sydney. I will check with my physio.

I guess I just thought that things like downward dog and the sun salutation sequence and burpees and push ups would be too much on my arm. So I gave up the whole idea.

thanks for giving me hope!