Exercise on chemo

Hi everyone. I am walking most days and find it does help with energy levels, but I am getting frustrated with the fatigue and just not being as active as I'm used to. I asked the nurses in day onc today about doing some gym or onc rehab to help me stay fit and not lose condition while I'm doing chemo, but they were against it, and said I just have to accept that I won't have energy at the moment, and worry about building it up again once I finish the chemo. Just wondering @ccasper whether you have Neulasta injection after your chemo? I was neutropaenic after my first chemo (neuts 0.13) and was given Neulasta after my second chemo last week. I will have my blood test in a few days to check neuts this time but apparently it helps.

Thanks @melclarity I do feel as if what I am doing is still moderate but having 30mins walks will be a experiment of mine at the end of my chemo x

Oh that's weird!!! you could try copy and pasting the link possibly, not sure why it did that lol. I'll paste some of the content here. Its all a bit over the top the jargon sorry! but what I get from it is, they say moderate exercise is better in terms of neutrophils than severe exercise. 

Introduction

Regular exercise is a practical way to improve immunity. However, the exercise effects on immunity are highly dependent on exercise intensity, duration, and frequency. Acute severe exercise (ASE), marathon running in particular, increases tissue damage and stimulates the secretion of many proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor > and interleukin (Iβ) 1A)[8,20] and an antiinflammatory cytokine (IL-6).[22] ASE also increases the risk of upper respiratory tract infection.[14,32]In contrast, chronic moderate exercise (CME) lowers many proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., C-reactive protein and IL-1) and elevates an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the circulation.[22] As a whole, CME improves immunity as indicated by lowered susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections.[14,32]

Because ASE and CME have diverse effects on immune responses, they may differentially regulate neutrophils. Neutrophils, the major cell type responsible for innate immunity, are short-lived leukocytes that undergo spontaneous apoptosis. Our recent studies have shown that ASE accelerates neutrophil apoptosis, whereas CME delays it.[24,25] Whether ASE and CME also exert differential effects on neutrophil functions deserves further investigation. When infection occurs, neutrophils rapidly migrate to the infection site (chemotaxis) and ingest the pathogens (phagocytosis). Whereas some studies demonstrate that ASE paradigms enhance neutrophil chemotaxis and phagocytosis,[5,7,17] other studies show either suppressive effects or no effect at all.[6,23,31] These controversies might be due to the different physical fitness levels of subjects, different exercise protocols, and different assay methods used in various studies. So far, relatively few studies address the effects of CME on neutrophil functions, and self-controlled studies are still lacking.

Thank you. My walk today was just over 30mins so I am going to try and keep them to that but I am doing some yoga tomorrow. That link didn't work @melclarity it took me to a login page!

@ccasper

I ended up so incredibly ill on Chemo that exercise was out let alone being able to walk to the letter box, its been a long recovery, 1 yr on now, Ive improved but walk 3 times a week and am starting with my Exercise Physiologist next week. Im looking forward to it, she was a wealth of information too! works with alot of Breast Cancer Ladies in recovery. 

I would take it down a notch and just see for yourself if it makes a difference, I dont know about it affecting your neutrophils but found this link too might be helpful. Hugs Melinda xo

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/765105

Thanks ladies. Always coming up with some good info @primek

maybe I can shorten my walks and see if it makes a difference! Even try two shorter walks!

I did as much as I could when well enough. My oncologist talked specifically about exercise and chemo and try to walk at least 30 mins most days. I don't think your program is extreme.

This article includes info of what be she might be  is talking about.

http://sweatscience.com/how-neutrophils-boost-or-weaken-your-immune-system-after-exercise/

I have been exercising every day through my ac chemo and now during weekly taxol. I walk at least 8km as my dogs and i need the exercise. My oncologist encourages me to keep up with it to combat fatigue and maintain fitness. I have not had any issues to date. Also helping me mentally to be out in fresh air.

I exercised throughout my 6 rounds of AC Chemo, which consisted of daily walks after dinner & running 5km at parkrun on Saturdays.

I never had a drama & was never told that exercise would lower my neutrophils & my Oncologist & the Onc Nurses all knew what I was doing.

I walked every day while on chemo throughout my 4XAC and 12xtaxol. My oncologist advised me to try and keep up my exercise as it helps with fatigue. It was my one goal every day to ensure that I had a walk of 30-45mins!!