Last fall, I had finally built up to running 3 mi/day, 4 days per week (plus a weekly workout of strides, drills, lunges, and calves). It was very hard on me. I was waking at night with fairly intense knee pain (weird, didn't hurt during the daytime), and I had a lot of exhaustion (on top of the "new normal" post-chemo exhaustion) most days.
I have taken the past 6 weeks completely off. Now rested, gonna start up again.
Last year at this time, my New Year's resolution was to run a sub-6 mile and a sub-60 400m. I didn't get to the point where it made sense to even try a 400, and I ran a solo 1600m in 6:41 off minimal training. So, I missed my goal but I guess not bad considering the amount of running my body would let me do.
Just want to say thanks for making this thread. I had seen it and knew it existed but didn’t pay it any kind until I got diagnosed with brain cancer … then. I searched for it and read the whole thing.
I was in bed for a few weeks following the brain surgery. I made it through the main round of radiation and chemo while being able to jog a bit… often just 1-2 miles, maybe 3-4 on the weekend when I didn’t have radiation.
I had December free of treatment complications and ramped up running a decent amount. I plan on jogging through a marathon in February. The chemo I’m cycling on/off right now isn’t very effective against the cancer, but at least it (temozolomide) is just a pill and doesn’t have very bad side effects.
Anybody care to share anything about post-cancer running? I'm having a hard time coming back to it. I'm 45 and it's been over 10 years since I ran consistently.
Gonna post here about my progress. I have no idea how this is going to go, or what's possible. Everybody feel free to chime in.
10 years after college, I ran 2:03 off of 10 mi/week training ... I was working too much to run any more than that.
Since then, I've had cancer 3 times. The 3rd time was an extreme case. Hundreds of tumors filling my lungs and abdomen, lots of chemo. I'm now 2 years cancer-free and it's been a long recovery.
I have some residual scarring in my lungs. Nerve damage in my feet from excessive amounts of heavy-metal-based chemotherapy makes my feet burn with phantom pain, so walking or running hurts (no actual injury, it's "fake pain").
Last spring, I had done some walking and a few minutes of jogging, and I wanted to see if I could run a mile without stopping. I found a local old 440y track and did four laps. It hurt like hell, but I ran 7:52 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I am going to try to see if I can get back into some kind of running shape.
Maybe try combinate biking and swimming mainly for endurance? Only sometimes running?
Got dinged by a text message at 11:15pm last night with my post HIFU PSA
When I get these I always get so nervous that it takes me awhile to access it
0.9 this time. Last time it was 0.4.
My PSA before treatment was 20.
It made me want to get everything that is left out of life and running was my favorite thing in life so I over did it ( for me) now this morning I need to consult an orthopedist ha
Just want to say thanks for making this thread. I had seen it and knew it existed but didn’t pay it any kind until I got diagnosed with brain cancer … then. I searched for it and read the whole thing.
I was in bed for a few weeks following the brain surgery. I made it through the main round of radiation and chemo while being able to jog a bit… often just 1-2 miles, maybe 3-4 on the weekend when I didn’t have radiation.
I had December free of treatment complications and ramped up running a decent amount. I plan on jogging through a marathon in February. The chemo I’m cycling on/off right now isn’t very effective against the cancer, but at least it (temozolomide) is just a pill and doesn’t have very bad side effects.
Keep us updated Sub 8!♥️
Will do! Keep fighting, friend.
If I could go back do the treatments over again, I would be sure to force myself to eat plenty of healthy foods. The chemo tricks your body into thinking you can't (or actually, you SHOULDN'T) eat. Plus, your sense of taste gets screwed up so stuff has no taste of tastes horrible.
But it's all horrible. It's a f***ing nightmare, right? So just do what you have to do and tell yourself that this food MUST get in you.
Have someone stand there and bully you into eating, if that's what it takes.
Your body's cells are breaking down, just not as fast as the cancer cells. In order to get thru this process and to come out as strong & healthy as possible (while still feeling like ****) it is important to ingest as much as possible*:
- Protein. You have to give the body raw material to rebuild. You are getting thin in part bc your body is consuming itself. Meat (eat ALL the fat and gristle!), chicken, fish, eggs, peanuts, milk. Get it in you.
- Fats. Your cell membranes and other components also need fats as raw materials to rebuild. Salmon, whole milk & cream, cottage cheese, olive oil, avocado, variety of nuts. Chow down.
- Fruits and vegetables, tons of them. You need the nutrients!
- Maybe a few healthy complex carbs like oats or whole grains, but as far as I am concerned, who cares. Just try to eat tons of the other stuff.
- No added sugar products; sugar is counterproductive but I can’t remember specifically why. I still have memory/thinking gaps. Used to be a smart guy, not so much now :-/
- No caffeine or alcohol. Also counterproductive. No need to introduce other drugs while you are being poisoned. If you have read this thread incl the earlier Battle-O-Rama episodes, well ... do as I say, not as I do :P
- Supplements like omega 3 & 8 (IIRC these are fatty acids that will help rebuild cell membranes etc), low-sugar Ensure-type drinks (but be sure to get super low sugar versions if possible).
- Flax and chia seed. Omegas.
- Plenty of ginger & turmeric. I suggest get fresh root and grind up into fruit/veggies smoothies. Reduces inflammation, soothes nausea. Go easy on the turmeric if you have low blood pressure.
- If your blood pressure if high, tons of turmeric and cherries (esp dark cherries). Watch those numbers tumble right back down :)
And drink water!
Oncologists will say "just eat whatever and whenever you can". Yeah, that's better than eating nothing at all, but you need more. Have a plan, be determined, work to stick to it and get a team to help force you into it because it will get rough at times but you still need all of the above.
F Cancer.
* Not a doctor or an expert, but all of the above reflects the very best of my understanding. I hope it helps anybody reading this who may be affected by cancer.
Anybody care to share anything about post-cancer running? I'm having a hard time coming back to it. I'm 45 and it's been over 10 years since I ran consistently.
Gonna post here about my progress. I have no idea how this is going to go, or what's possible. Everybody feel free to chime in.
10 years after college, I ran 2:03 off of 10 mi/week training ... I was working too much to run any more than that.
Since then, I've had cancer 3 times. The 3rd time was an extreme case. Hundreds of tumors filling my lungs and abdomen, lots of chemo. I'm now 2 years cancer-free and it's been a long recovery.
I have some residual scarring in my lungs. Nerve damage in my feet from excessive amounts of heavy-metal-based chemotherapy makes my feet burn with phantom pain, so walking or running hurts (no actual injury, it's "fake pain").
Last spring, I had done some walking and a few minutes of jogging, and I wanted to see if I could run a mile without stopping. I found a local old 440y track and did four laps. It hurt like hell, but I ran 7:52 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I am going to try to see if I can get back into some kind of running shape.
Maybe try combinate biking and swimming mainly for endurance? Only sometimes running?
Yes, definitely a good suggestion, thank you. I wasn't able to get to the pool, but after that original post (spring 2020), I started out with a fair amount of walking and biking mixed in with running. Eventually built up to running (well, jogging and drills, mostly) about 10-15 mi/week over a year and a half.
Ran 6:41 1600m solo TT last fall (2021).
I have now taken almost 2 months completely off. I want to get started again, but frankly it's a little intimidating and I've been wussing out.
All right, 2 months off is long enough. Time to get back on the horse.
Starting general strength & conditioning. Today: lunges and upper body.
Well, that was 2+ months ago ... no progress since then. About a week after that post, I was kneeling down to instruct a class on proper CPR technique. There was a small painless *pop* in my left knee (prior meniscus tear & surgery) and my knee has had minor pain & swelling for the past 2 months (unable to run even a few steps without great pain). It's been feeling 80-90% better lately, so I am carefully trying to get back to being active.
Can't blame this on the cancer/chemo. Just an old injury that started 30 years ago, high school triple jump.
In the meantime ... it's been the post-cancer "new normal" ... daily physical & mental exhaustion, phantom pain, etc etc, all the same stuff. BUT this year, 2022, 47yo:
Sub-8: I found your thread! Thanks for alerting me to this.
After reading what you've been through, I am in total awe. Absolutely amazing and inspiring. And makes me realize I should not complain a damn bit about my own situation. So many incredible stories in this thread. Thank you all for posting. I will continue reading.
As background to everyone, I was asking about getting back into running after chemo. I had testicular cancer (stage 1B, just spreading a bit to the lymph nodes) and after surgery had 2 rounds of carboplatin. Nothing compared to what you all have endured. It's been about 4 weeks post-chemo now, and I'm hoping my blood will start recovering. Running is a lot harder at a given pace than what it used to be, HR shoots up like crazy at the slightest incline. But it should get better. I will post here on how things go. So glad I found this, thanks again Sub-8!
It's been about 4 weeks post-chemo now, and I'm hoping my blood will start recovering. Running is a lot harder at a given pace than what it used to be, HR shoots up like crazy at the slightest incline. But it should get better. I will post here on how things go. So glad I found this, thanks again Sub-8!
If you train at effort (ignore pace) over the next 3 months, this should all go back to normal. 2 rounds of carboplatin is ok (unless it was high-dose, but you didn't mention that, or the associated stem cell transplant).
You should recover fine! Eat super healthy, get extra sleep, take naps if you need them.
Two days off per week (not one). No hard workouts, maybe one light tempo per week. Plenty of drills & strides to maintain/rebuild a bit of strength & agility in the meantime.
Suggestion - 5 day microcycle. Go 3 days easy, 1 light workout [alternate light tempo OR drills & stride session], 1 day off. One of those easy days on the bike, another easy day in the pool. Light gym work after the "workouts" -- high reps, low weights, slow thru full range of motion like for physical therapy. Just an idea, from one who's been there :)
Post your progress! Would love to hear how it goes.
It's been about 4 weeks post-chemo now, and I'm hoping my blood will start recovering. Running is a lot harder at a given pace than what it used to be, HR shoots up like crazy at the slightest incline. But it should get better. I will post here on how things go. So glad I found this, thanks again Sub-8!
If you train at effort (ignore pace) over the next 3 months, this should all go back to normal. 2 rounds of carboplatin is ok (unless it was high-dose, but you didn't mention that, or the associated stem cell transplant).
You should recover fine! Eat super healthy, get extra sleep, take naps if you need them.
Two days off per week (not one). No hard workouts, maybe one light tempo per week. Plenty of drills & strides to maintain/rebuild a bit of strength & agility in the meantime.
Suggestion - 5 day microcycle. Go 3 days easy, 1 light workout [alternate light tempo OR drills & stride session], 1 day off. One of those easy days on the bike, another easy day in the pool. Light gym work after the "workouts" -- high reps, low weights, slow thru full range of motion like for physical therapy. Just an idea, from one who's been there :)
Post your progress! Would love to hear how it goes.
Thanks for the advice Sub-8. Things are getting better slowly but surely. I had bloodwork last week and hemoglobin is up to 11.8; still low but moving in the right direction. I still have to go slower to stay at my usual easy HR range of 133-138, but that is also getting better gradually. This morning I ran 8 miles @ 8:32 average, and supposedly at HR of 136 avg but I think it is a bit wonky. Felt harder effort than that. The day before I went 6 miles @ 9:26 and that felt really nice and easy, and showed HR 132 avg. Today's run was a harder effort. I have not done any workouts yet but might start adding some short tempos or some short fartleks, like 10 x 1 minute. My weight has come back to close to normal "fit" weight for me; I had gained about 7-8 lbs during the time off from running but as I'm getting the mileage back up it is coming off.
I started back at my strength routine (mostly lower body stuff: squats, deadlift, planks, booty sprout) and was sore as hell for several days but it's good to be back at that. Definitely lost a lot of strength by not doing that for a couple months.
How are you doing? How is the sub 60 400m/sub 6 mile training going? A sub 60 400 was beyond my abilities even at my most fit back in college! That will be damn impressive and is an excellent goal to shoot for!
I've been sidelined with a sore knee, minor injury. It's healing, but slowly. Doing a lot of walking and strength exercises in the meantime. Now it's almost May ... I'm wondering whether there is time to get fit enough and go after those goals before end of 2022.