here's an article showing that exercise has a very positive effect on preventing and/or reducing breast cancer. It starts with:- Exercise can apparently lessen the rate of cancer cell growth and even help prevent its recurrence. And remarkably, it also lowers breast cancer risks for women.It seems that a hormone, released even during short periods of mild to strenuous exercise, works in our favor.That chemical is epinephrine (also known as adrenalin.) It is produced by the adrenal glands which perch atop our kidneys.Epinephrine is often referred to as the “fight or flight” hormone. It plays a major role when we’re under physical or emotional stress.In response to stress, the body sends a message to the brain to produce epinephrine. This hormone raises our heart rate to send off oxygenated blood to our muscles and brain to “pump us up” for whatever action is necessary. To read more follow this link :-Please note the references at the end of the article https://www.findatopdoc.com/Women-s-Health/Exercise-and-Breast-Cancer-in-Women/Final-thoughts

I don't think this network should ever be about comparing ourselves. We are all individuals with completely different lives before, during and after bc. Some of us will never achieve the 'after bc' but are just doing the absolute best living with this horrible disease.We share our experiences because this is all hard no matter what your situation is. We share our experiences to get advice or just to hear we are not alone. We share our experiences because they might help someone else. We share our experiences to get SUPPORT from others who know just how hard general life can be and therefore how every little (or sometimes big) achievement should be reason to celebrate and KEEP GOING. No one EVER shares an experience to make others feel less.We all just do our best and that is always enough. One step at a time. We are all at different stages of this 'process' and just trying to live the best life possible after it got derailed by bc. Let's support each other regardless of the different paths we take to achieve that 'best life for us'.xoxoxoxoxo

Whilst I think it's great some people feel well enough to work through chemo, keep doing all the same exercise etc ....don't for one minute think others haven't because they gave into it. I went through AC chemo requiring 3 different anti-nausea medications to not vomit, a blood pressure with a systolic lower than 85...hense fainting at times, I had bloating and constant wind pain and severe constipation like passing bricks. ..lets see someone who works in a people focussed job like I do, with those side effects....just excuse me while I lay down here and let one rip. Then the second part...I was so excited thinking I was going to be able to go back to work as they said it was easier..on taxol and herceptin... errrr no....gastritis, low blood pressure again, balance issues. ..I fell over in the wood pile one day and couldn't get up and unable to drive as I would forget what I was doing in the middle of the intersection. Oh ...and my people job also involved driving. I had heavy legs that felt like I was walking through wet cement, and oedema from the high steroids I needed causing me to blow out like a beach ball (allergy to taxol) I haven't even mentioned having heart failure twice...or reconstructive surgery.So yes...some people do fine on chemo and have little interuption to their lives. Others. ..are smacked squarely in the face with horrid side effects, crippling fatigue and a long recovery. I've had to work hard to get condition back. If I overdo it...I crash...for days or weeks...and then I'm barely able to get through a work day. It took me 6 months to return to full time work. So we are all different...and fantastic if you can do it. But likewise if you can't just do what you can...keep at it and hopefully you can return to a full life with regular fitness. Even with those symptoms...I would walk on a treadmill at a snails pace as that is as fast as my legs would allow and I went to a hydro pool for resistance deep water walking / exercise...which was challenging as I often got motion sickness in it due to chemo side effects ...and almost chucked in the pool one day! I used to be able to swim laps for 30 minutes on weekends and went to the gym 5 days a week prior diagnosis and treatment. This YouTube clip by Raelene I think is great advise. (Hope it works) Kath xhttps://youtu.be/HlFotiP5D0I

Oh yes, I get the walking done now compliments if buses - not really brisk though or I'll end up on the ground!! But I'm a couch potato rest of the time - sweep the floor - sit down - make the bed - sit down - etc etc. Find a cure for the neuropathy and tiredness why don't they...

I have just come back from a walk along the beach, so I like waking and exercise. I have a theory I’d love researchers to look at. I have heart issues after having Adriamycin (in ACT chemo) and left sided radiotherapy (which has now been improved). I’m wondering if working through chemo and exercise has contributed to the effects of Adriamycin on my heart function. I wonder if this is happening and it’s being under reported. Exercise is great. I’d just like to know more about chemo, exercise and heart function, especially in younger women.

@sandramj haha! "Sparkles"! I love it!On my last visit to my GP he asked me if I'd "ever heard of chronic fatigue?" and that I might have to make adjustments to my lifestyle to cope with it. I can't tell you whether it was the chemo or is the hormone therapy or a bit of both, but I wasn't like this pre-treatment. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I do suspect it has a lot to do with the estrogen blocker though, I honestly wasn't this tired even having just come from chemo going into rads.

Exercise can apparently lessen the rate of cancer cell growth and even help prevent its recurrence.

57 Replies

Romla
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8 years ago
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I agree with@Sam09 exercise helps more than anything with my headspace - my daily one hour walk , twice weekly stretch/ balance class and my Encore hydrotherapy all keep me sane and calm - I need them and notice the difference when something else crops up and I miss it esp the walk . I have never be an exerciser but now I get cranky if I miss it. I agree it helps with anger, anxiety and all the other roller coaster of emotions I have experienced since my diagnosis .
Sam09
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8 years ago
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Its true it really is ladies exercise is the medicine for my soul my husband fails to understand what makes me love my exercise so much but i know i feel it is the only thing i feel i still have control over with this horrible disease
I probably torture myself to much some days when i shouldnt but theres nothing like cranking up the music in my gym not to my elderly neighbours liking im sure and with my bestie my beloved french mastiff and a great big bone his of course not mine hehe pushing myself somehow the cancer anger melts away
sandramj
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8 years ago
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@alexinbrisbane yes I’ve noticed if I push myself and go to exercise classes in the morning I feel good. And have s bit of a spring in my step. I’m trying guided meditations and doing “whatever it takes” To get through and hopefully repair and recover.
alexinbrisbane
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8 years ago
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I agree with meditation, although I have difficulty finding the right time. At night I fall asleep (not a bad thing) so I guess, subliminal meditation is still good.
melclarity
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8 years ago
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@viking1 I agree with you totally i meditate and i exercise a little to a point but not to exert myself. Enough to feel good but meditation doesn't surprise me at all the research and its links.
SoldierCrab
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8 years ago
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Lots of local libraries have lots of CDs of mediation for loan I went and got it copied it to my computer, if it was good for me.
primek
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8 years ago
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You can download free apps...one called smiling mind. One call mindshift. Both have guided mindfulness techniques on it. There are plenty more out there. They have short ones and long ones and are a great way to reduce stress. Once mastered it is easy to take a few minutes to calm a busy mind.
viking1
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8 years ago
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I have been watching research from my Solaris Centre that is saying meditation is a key preventative in the mind body connection for cancer prevention ... not exercise. Whilst I think a nice walk or meander is great, I am interested in this research for those of us who can't face a walk. Having said that, after a swim or meander I do feel much better. The Headspace app is free for a period of time and takes you from 3 min meditations x10, to 5mins x 10, and then 10mins x 10. I found it excellent, struggled with some of the 10mins but anyone can do the 3mins and you do feel refreshed after! A mindulness counsellor put me on to it, then a recent psych uni grad. I would not be able to sit for an hour and meditate ... mind too busy. So this is a good intro. After 30 days they try to get you to upgrade which involves $. So please try the freebie trial even if you think you could never meditate ... that was me!
primek
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8 years ago
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I often say instead of a nap take a lap. If I'm still fatigued after ...well I have a nap...or nobody gets tea.
iserbrown
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8 years ago
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Agree, I love my garden, live on acres and a wander around can rejuvenate the energy levels even though fatigue has plagued me for a very long time! Long ago when I was training for a marathon we were on the road before 6.00am and yes that would set me up for the day!