Advocating for Exercise in Breast Cancer Groups
i just wanted to raise some awareness on an issue that has been bugging me and say something here. i have stopped participating in cancer groups because even though groups like this called "get active and keep well", the general fear and disapproval from other members is if someone starts exercising "more" than the generally accepted idea of what exercise is. anything more than that idea is frowned upon, and people have made me feel so angry and sad for sharing something that i am proud of and something that empowers me. with this group and other ones for breast cancer, after i share information about doing some exercise and training after my surgery and after chemo, i have had comments that really shot me down and basically either flat out said that i need "a reality check", or alluding to the fact that the best thing that i can do right now is rest, NOT exercise, and some had attacked me saying that i am putting myself up to put her down (!!). some saying "i wouldnt do that if i were you". well guess what... they are not me. and i am not them. most of these types of comments i have found came from people who have not had the same powerlifting training as me. or from people who did not have an athletic or regular exercise routine at all prior to diagnosis. and these comments have not only hurt me, but made me feel angry and frustrated with the very little emotional energy i already do not have. what i decide to do with my cancer experience is safe FOR ME. for example, women, let alone cancer survivors are fearful of anything to do with strength training. i will not go into the reasons for this and i will not go into the enormous benefits for strength training for women. but i'll give you an example. yesterday i went to the gym and felt great for it. amongst other things, i did 50kgs deadlift. now, if my best deadlift prior to diagnosis was 3 reps, 3 sets of 80kg deadlift prior to diagnosis, and i lifted 50kgs (3x2) nearly 2 months since recovering well from surgery with full range of motion, and 11 days after chemo, and assessing myself as i go, feeling fine and not really even puffed out, and not even sore the next 2 days, to me that means that it is safe for ME to do this. if i felt not ok before, during or after doing a 50kg deadlift 10 days after chemo i would stop. why would i stop doing something that is manageable? for me manageable means something different than the next person who has had recovered from breast cancer surgery and 11 days out of the first chemo session. i trained nearly for around 9 months prior to diagnosis. 50kg deadlift would be a different story to a competitive powerlifter who can lift triple digits in kgs, and would be different again to someone who only did walking as exercise prior to diagnosis. why are other people not to be trusted to their own intuitions and experience in something they already know? do we need to tell someone how to live their life? not usually. so why tell someone how to go through their cancer journey? i have my surgeon and oncologist's approval and support for powerlifting before, during and after chemo, and i have the utter wonderful and strong support from the fitness community groups. why must i be told like an idiot that i am doing the wrong thing for my body? why tell me that i am not doing what i should be doing? with all the new realisations in the medical field that building stamina, strength and muscle can help to improve the lives of people with cancer even during treatment, and that these increases in fitness and muscle can trigger lots of previously unknown properties for the body to heal itself, generate more energy and stamina to better handle treatment, why is that exercise and strength training is so frowned upon by the standards of 30 years ago? maybe we do not have that much information on the subject but at least what we do know 100% for sure is that even if you don't have cancer, and you did no exercise, and no resistance training, that your body will function very very differently than someone who does regular cardiovascular as well as strength training. you add muscle bone and energy killing chemotherapy on top of someone who doesn't exercise for months at a time, and you get far greater levels fatigue, far greater loss of strength and more difficulty regaining strength after treatment (and guess what helps combat loss of bone density, muscle mass and loss of energy? -strength training). i know that before my diagnosis if i do not exercise for 2 weeks i loose strength and stamina, i feel more fatigued and my lupus will take over and i will be more prone to simply staying in bed. why do people like myself, other fitness pursuing women and athletes who had been diagnosed with breast cancer have to feel like we cannot be supported in a group like this and other groups that advocates exercise? i want to feel like people respect my decisions to do what i need and what i want with my life, especially because i feel ok and great after what i do in terms of exercise. and i want to say to other women here who do exercise/athletic pursues, PLEASE share what you do for exercise! because the community needs to know that if someone knows their body, got doctors approval, and does exercise that makes them feel great not just physically, but mentally and that empowers them, that they should be celebrated! that they should be allowed to say and share and be proud of what they did especially whist going through cancer! you need to share your experience until it is normalised in our society. i have been made to feel so angry and ashamed because i went back to the gym when i felt ok to, during MY cancer experience, and i do not want that for anyone else. i am excited to share this with you as a last note in a couple of links. thanks for those who read and are willing to understand. https://soundcloud.com/abcnsw/resistance-training-benefits-breast-cancer-survivors http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4459555.htm <-- ABC catalyst documentary (chemo and exercise) http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0067579 <-- the exercise cancer killer cells research https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julie_Gehl/publication/294870149_Voluntary_Running_Suppresses_Tumor_Growth_through_Epinephrine-_and_IL-6-Dependent_NK_Cell_Mobilization_and_Redistribution/links/56e954d408aecf036b315403.pdf <-- how killer cells work on tumors 2016 research
Shaving head to bald - do I go to a barber?
Hi ladies, Just diagnosed with BC early May and have done 3 out of 4 chemo sessions. I have a tiny bit of grey hair left all over but wanted to maybe shave it all off completely by going to a barber (so having a shiny completely bald head). Anyone else done this? Would love to hear from you. Thanks Kerrie x
stomach always upset
Hi, I was recently diagosed with a triple neg stage 3 cancer. Successfully removed with clear margins, but pathology showed, particularly aggressive. Just had first 2 chemo treatments of doxyrubicin/cyclophosphamide, having 4 fortnightly sessions, followed by 12 weekly sessions of paclitaxel. Then 3 months of radiation therapy. Finding that I have a multitude of side effects, but the one that is causing me the most trouble is my stomach. I take a daily pantoproprazole tab for reflux, and often an anti nausea tab as well. I find that I either have no appetite because my stomach just feels gross all the time, or I am then starving, and feel like my stomach is eating itself. I try to eat small amounts frequently, but the symptoms never let up. I've tried various foods, but wondering if anyone has found anything in particular to ease that "unwell" feeling. I have read so much contradicting information about what to eat and what to avoid, that my head is in a spin.
Dental work while having Chemo treatment
In February I was diagnosed with Early Stages Her 2 + Estrogen + cancer. I have 6 months of chemo, radiation, Hercepton and Hormone therapy ahead of me. I have already had my first 2 three weekly cycles of chemo and have a tooth that is cracked and needs to come out but the dental surgeon said he needs to cut into my jaw :( My oncologist has said he would really like me to baby it through till after my chemo finishes but it is starting to bother me. I was wondering if anyone else on here has has dental issues.
Ummm ........ has anyone else had their first chemo treatment deferred?
Well I didn’t expect to get sick & on antibiotics the week of my first chemo treatment ...... it should have been today but is now scheduled for a fortnight’s time. I have had a lot of personal stress this year & especially last week which has obviously taken a toll on me. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else or if I’m just special for all the wrong reasons? Lol.
Cardiomyopathy and chemo ...... a serious condition to be aware of
I do NOT want to scare anyone - but this is a very real condition that may affect some who've been thru chemo - and is something to be aware of, particularly if you start getting a dry hacking cough or chest pain. It usually affects 'older' people .... but everyone just needs to be aware. My friend couldn't recall what chemo regime she'd been on .... so it may NOT relate to all chemo regimes - and it took some years before she was aware she had a problem. I had my hair cut yesterday - no big deal - my hair dresser (who was diagnosed with BC over 5 years ago and was running the Look good, feel better program) was really surprised when I told her earlier in the year that I had 'Joined the Club' .....she said 'Golf Club?' So she was gobsmacked when I said, 'No, the Breast Cancer Club'. Since then, we'd chat every time I went in for a cut ...... Yesterday, she stunned me when she said that she had had a heart attack & been in ICU for a number of days & in hospital for another week or more - and that it was the BC chemo that had caused it! She has about 20% of the 'pumping side' of her heart that has basically died (pushing her blood out of her heart - so a very reduced flow) - and there is no cure - just a heart transplant if it gets 'bad enough'. She had a massive amount of fluid in her lungs that needed to be drained - which caused pain with every breath. She has to weigh herself regularly now - as increased weight can indicate the fluid buildup in her lungs again. She also developed a really dry hacking cough. She was incredibly uncomfortable sleeping at night - even sleeping sitting up supported by pillows didn't help ... and was having strong chest pains. She presented to Emergency at Taree Hospital & after a couple of days there was sent to John Hunter Hospital at Newcastle, where further tests confirmed 'Non Systemic Cardiomyopathy'. She is coping 'ok' at the moment ... and I just hope that things don't deteriorate :( Take care - and just be aware! xx
Discoloured Nails
Hi all, Just after some advice regarding discoloured nails due to the effects of Chemo. I have heard that either painting your nails with a dark colour can help, especially protecting them from the sunlight or just painting them with a clear moisturising varnish. Not sure which path to go down, any advice is much appreciated. Thanks x
Cracked Rib !!!!!
Hi All, Just wondering if anyone else has cracked a rib couching after having chemo and rads? I recently had a bad cold and cough and it seems that i have cracked a rib having a coughing fit!! I went to the Drs a few weeks ago and they gave me anti infalmmatories and said if no better then have an XRay . Well no better so had Xray and got results this morning and turns out cracked 11th rib! Now i have to get a chest CT done and Bone Mineral Density because of my history. Dr said last years bone scan was clear so i hope and pray its not spread to my bones . Started to stress a bit now and to make things worse Hubby is away in the UK as his Mother is seriously ill. I have not told him yet as he has enough on his plate without worrying about me. Thanks for listening and take care all of you lovely people and have a good weekend :) <3
Significant other
Hi. 6 days in on third round TC chemo. Hanging in OK, but quite teary and tired, so maybe making a mountain out of a molehill. But it's only me and hubby, surely it's not that hard to organise shopping and housework without fifty questions. It is sooo much easier to do it myself, although I have no energy. Also have infection and really need to pace myself. It is really impacting on our relationship as he just does not have one empathetic bone in his body, and just doesn't get this looking after someone else thing. I really feel I would be better alone than to have expectations. I know we all are in different situations, just having a whinge. Probably a good sleep is all I need. J
