Cancer update

eminenz2

eminenz2

Cathlete
Hello all the Cathe fitness buffs!

Just a quick update for anyone interested -

I have been in chemo for four and a half months now. My side effects were fairly mild and the in the last eight sessions they were non-existant.

My surgery is scheduled for January 26th. They will be performing a mastectomy and removing two sets of lymph node.

I know I will be fine but I am still a little scared.

I have gained 12 pounds! Yikes! :-( I guess that's the least of my worries.

-Susan L.G.
 
Susan, I'm glad your chemo went smoothly. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for your surgery. Of course you're scared. Who wouldn't be? Stay away from the scales and think healthy thoughts. Best wishes and keep posting.
 
Susan I'm so glad that's been going better than expected for you. I'd love to know a little more about the weight. I'm scheduled for a uterine biopsy this week and my first thought was "if I have cancer, what about my workouts?!" Funny how you train yourself. I'll be thinking of you on your surgery date. My prayers go with you.

Lorrie
 
Susan, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted.

Lorrie, you too!

(((((HUGS))))) to both of you.

Dallas
 
I haven't done any Cathe workouts since my diagnosis. However, I have been riding my horse lately about 5 times a week. I did a lot of walking during my first round as well. No reason to get on a horse when you're feeling dizzy.

The first round of chemo - Adriamycin and Cytoxin was brutal. The second round - Taxotere and Herceptin - was so much easier - I feel almost like a normal person! I only missed one day of work a week (chemo day) and kept my schedule pretty normal. On days when the fatigue would hit me, I just backed off and slept.

I am attributing my weight gain to the steroids I've been taking for my last round of chemo, plus the macaroni and cheese I ate for awhile. (It was all my tummy could handle). Crikey, who wants broiled chicken breast and crispy broccoli when you're feeling sick? Bleh. Give me mashed potatoes and pudding!

Lorrie,
I am thinking of you during your stressful time. Please try not to worry about the weight or your workouts. I am trying to learn how to not judge my body anymore and trusting its wisdom. Since my body is bascially a toxic waste dump these days anyway, I'm certainly not going to stress it more. I've got a long way to go before I can push it again to where it was before.

Your body will tell you what it can tolerate. I know some women on this board kept their workouts going to a certain degree. I chose to keep riding my horse and spent my energy there.

Now if it just weren't so cold outside!! ;-)

Susan L.G.
 
Lorrie,
I am thinking about you and sending you strength. My most favorite hiking partner on earth had a mastectomy and a ton of chemo and she is doing great and in her 5th year! I started hiking with her about 6 months after her surgery and within a few months she was kicking my butt again! Your body will be weak for a while while it takes care of business, but your heart and spirit are so strong that it will sustain you. Please keep us posted how you are doing!

Melissa

Keep your head in line. Your butt will follow.

http://www.picturetrail.com/pellmel
 
Susan:

Glad to know things are going well. Good thoughts, prayer will continue to come your way.

Lorrie:
Good thoughts, prayers coming at you.
 
I had a fellow teacher tell me this when she was diagnosd with Hodgkins disease about 20 years ago (in the days of really rugged chemo).

She said she used to go running with the rowing team on the college campus she was living near. She said she was planning on running a marathon, and she treated her daily run as such. Then she was diagnosed with Hodgkins. She said she evtually reallized that what she was really training for was fighting the disease, not running a marathon.

She told me that all fitness you have banked away is really going to be what gets you healthy again and keeps you healthy. It's not about flat tummies and smaller pants sizes. It's about he efficiency your body now has that's put you ahead of all the sick people who didn't exercise regularly.

I said to my oncology nurse the other day, "Sometimes I think I'm the healthiest sick person I know," and she agreed completely.

Anyway, have a great day everyone.

Susan L.G.
 
Susan-Glad things are going well. I hope your surgery goes really smooth and you have a fast recovery. I will be thinking of you.
 
What a wonderful way of looking at how fitness works for life Susan! Truly an inspiration.

Lorrie
 
Susan - all the best for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. I'm glad the chemo was somewhat of a low-impact experience. With your previous training, getting back in the saddle (as it were) after the surgery is done should be eminently doable - you've got a great base core of fitness, good muscle memory, motivation, spirit and the support of your friends here in Cathe-Land (among others).

My hat is off to you, and my skull gleams for you. Keep us posted.

A-Jock
 
Wow, Susan. Very touching about your frien's statement on health, and VERY TRUE! Hang in there, and as you already know, we are all keeping you in our prayers.

Gayle
 
Hey Susan - I just realized I called you Lorrie! Not enough coffee before I started. Sorry about that.

Good attitude on your health....you have been banking health for this very important time!

Melissa

Keep your head in line. Your butt will follow.

http://www.picturetrail.com/pellmel
 
Susan,
It sounds like you have great courage. You will get through this and will be doing tuck jumps before you know it. It really is true that these workouts we are doing are so beneficial to our health and our mind and not just our vanity. I will be thinking of you. Take care.

Susan
 
I am glad that the chemo went okay for you, and you will be in my prayers. It is natural to be scared, and please continue to let us know how you are doing.
 
Susan, it's good to hear things are going well (or so to speak, you know). Good luck with your surgery, will be thinking about you. ((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))

Catherine
 
HEY,

Glad to hear all is good for you, I too have recently faced cancer. I had/have lung cancer. I had NO sypmtoms other than a cough (and with allergies , when didn't I cough) I was doing really intense workouts Cathe/Tae Bo and the Firm daily........up until surgery i kept working out!
SO I have part of my lung removed along with a softball sized tumor (the right lung is in 3 pieces only only one was removed) and I recouped VERY fast with that (supposed to spend 2 days in ICU, speant a half day) came home early and another milestone(won't get into it) reached 2 days early. was back to working out and all! Then I had to have a port a cathe put in a month later...... and was back to working out in a week time........walking and light aerobics......so THEN Chemo TIME and the first drug (Cysplatin) knocks the daylights outa me, i lost 5 pounds in NO TIME! the second one, (Navelbine) just made me tired!

Throughout the whole thing, I gained 17 pounds (added to the 20 from when I quit smoking) but lost 5 (see chemo) I get steroids each dose, i go weekly ONE of the bad stuff, 3 of the other......for 4 months, I am on the first month!

I had worked my self back to doing my first Cathe the day before my first CHEMO......OK OK so it was Basic step, but still!!! I was happy!

YOU can beat this, and your working out will help! (for once DH did NOT complain about the collection I have)

If you have any questions, or just want/need to vent email me [email protected]
 
Susan,

Thanks for the update. So glad to hear that things are going well. I'll sure keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Please keep us posted and know that your Cathe friends are thinking of you:)
 
Susan,
I have to admit, i haven't followed the forums enough lately, but i want to tell you, you are doing great. You sound like a very strong woman. I felt compelled to respond because I was an Oncology nurse for many years. I know (not personally, but as a nurse) what you have gone thru. I know the chemo can be very hard on the body, but you are thru it. Now your body will start regenerating, and your hair will come back, and you'll slowly start getting your strength back.
As for your surgery, you'll be fine, if your interested in reconstruction make sure to ask, i've seen amazing work in breast reconstruction.

Take care and god bless!! keep us updated!

Wendy B.
 
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