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

I do recall a time where I rang my best friend (on a day off) and told her I was tired...she told me to have a nap.... So I went for a 40 min walk instead and, hey presto, my energy came back for the rest of the day. Taught me a valuable lesson but there are days (not many) where I will have a power nap, when and if I can.
Another interesting personal fact, I have more energy during the day when I exercise first thing in the morning. That's probably the lovely, feel-good endorphins.
I hope this might help some of you and hope you get thru the fatigue soon. Alex xx

The university of qld also runs exercise programs for cancer patients under treatment or finished treatment.   If anyone lives in Brisbane 

Wow, it’s been really interesting to hear from everyone about the different side effects of treatment. I am happy to be cancer free, but these side effects are impacting on my quality of life so much.

I’d love to see a register set up involving cardiologists and other health professionals where heart issues would be recorded and they could start keeping some data on heart issues which occur years after treatment. This could be done in the same way as they ask you are asked to register when you get a breast implant. This would start the process of monitoring heart issues in survivors. I know it’s not the only cause, but my heart specialist said that it is a major factor. Cardiomyopathy can be caused by Adriamycin, as can other heart issues.  

Tachycardia (fast heart beat) is often a sign of AF (atrial fibrillation) and ablation is one option. The problem is a malfunction of the heart's electrical system, not damage to the muscle itself. I have chosen to live with a normal heart rate, but slightly irregular rhythm, managed by pills rather than ablation. Haven't had any tachycardia in years. Lots of options, main thing is to be aware that chemo may be a factor although probably not a direct cause.

@sandramj you are totally right, there is no talk of the aftermath of treatment, you are expected to pick up where you left off according to everyone else including your Oncologist. They dont really want to know about any problems that treatment has brought on, talking from experience. Yes we are grateful BUT...a totally compromised quality of life too that nobody seems to acknowledge. So we do the best we can with what we have and find our peace and middle ground. The hardest thing is...and I know this to be true for me, Breast Cancer hasnt compounded my quality of life but rather the treatment, so mentally thats a tough thing to get around.

For me 2yrs on, Im actually happy at the place Im getting to, so its about setting yourself up for success. I will be working 4 days next year and I think I will manage, Ive increased my strength working with my Exercise physiologist. So its about not getting to where you were, but a place you are OK with. I think Im nearly there :) so hang in there..and acknowledge all the emotions, they are real, they are valid and they are your truth, nobody elses. 

Its a slow ride, but you will rise slowly. Hugs Melinda xo

@melclarity so pleased to hear you were dale to have the ablation snd steady your heart. It’s these “effects” of radiation/chemo/hormone therapy etc we don’t hear about till after. Which is usually when we’ve suffered them thinking we’re the only one. I didn’t want to ‘complain’ to oncologist about my tiredness, depression anxiety as I felt I should be GRATEFUL for being cancer free. For me it’s like whinging and maybe becoming a hypochondriac after having been ‘treated’ for cancer. I feel like I should be grateful to be alive, and I shouldn’t expect to feel normal again. Yet it seems do many people feel the same. I guess by putting it here helps, but seems to need more publicity so people don’t double whammy themselves by feeling the changes to their lifestyle then feeling guilty for feeling them. 
Today im going to allow myself to feel all these emotions, anxiety and depression and that I have and accept them and acknowledge it’s ok to feel tired and lethargic and it’s not my fault.  I will do only what I feel like doing today. 

I just wanted to add, that back in 2011 when I had radiation at first diagnosis I had a history of heart palpitations, but it was rare. 6 months after treatment I started to get them relentlessly, til 1 day I was alone and passed out, ended up in hospital with possible heart muscle damage as it was equivalent to running a marathon they said. It had been going for 10hrs..big mistake.

So I ended up having a heart ablation done, and it cured it! they just cauterize the nerve pathways across the heart, so its not the function of the heart thats the problem. 6yrs on and am great.

I also wanted to say however while on FEC in 2015 my heart was constantly labouring and beating fast, all over the place...so it affected it greatly! It has settled down now..but I cannot exercise like an athlete for many reasons and chemo is a major culprit...

Melinda xo

Before my radiotherapy there was a very strongly pressed point of WHY I had to hold my breath during the treatment: To keep the target still and accurate, but most importantly to make sure my heart would be out of the way of the treatment.

I didn't have any trouble with it but there was a lot of chatter about lung capacity and how as we age it diminishes. They would always say I was an easy patient and if there were delays it was usually because they'd had to stop someone's treatment because they couldn't hold it and needed a break so they'd had to reset. Nothing to be ashamed of, of course, in a lot of cases it's practically unavoidable.

I find it so just bonkers nuts that through your whole treatment nobody even mentioned it. Just reinforces my whole desire for there to be accessible info pamphlets for ever single thing literally handed to patients on the spot every step of the way. 

I have metastatic breast cancer and am 4 and a half years diagnosis, my oncologist sat opposite me and said if I can give you one piece of advice it would be to exercise, some days that means I can walk up to the shed to give my partner a coffee other days it means I dont have the energy to clean my teeth,we all do the best we can with what we have on any particular day, all of the above advice is spot on, we are all just putting one foot in front of the other, on any given day.
To some of us just getting through the day is like running a marathon, I have learned not to feel guilty about what I can and cannot do, I was not able to run 5ks before my breast cancer diagnosis so I dont expect to be able to do it now, but I do know my oncologist was right, exercise in any form makes you feel good, its just doing what you are able to and not feeling guilty about what you are not,


wendy55

I too had LHS radiotherapy . As I am er+ I am taking  Letrozole . I was advised of potential damage to my heart of radiotherapy - my tumour was quite deep. I think the fatigue and feeling low / anxious - and they probably interact - is a side effect of Letrozole. I walk daily for an hour and find it helps with both - though not easy some days with joint pain but seem to be able to walk thru it. It also helps me to do a gentle stretch/ balance class twice per week both for my joints and my headspace - the latter is also helped by being out and about with others. I have also been doing the YWCA Encore hydrotherapy course available in most states - not Victoria I think ? - it’s good on two levels being with a diverse group of fellow bc ladies and also the exercise program which is gentle - geared mainly to lymphodema prevention - I do not have lymphodema . It’s once a week for 8 weeks for 2 hours in a very warm swimming pool available to anyone who has ever had breast cancer and you can do up to 4 courses . I think hard as it is at times being out and about amongst people helps plus exercise plus having this forum to unload and a small group of friends who you can talk to all helps.