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I got one for ya wrote:
Cancer survivor you say?

Google "Lance Armstrong"

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Precious Roy wrote:
Serena Burla had a chunk of her leg removed when a sarcoma was found. She was able to skip radiation due to the radical nature of the surgery. She is back running now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03...ted=2&_r=3

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common wrote:
How long has it been since the surgery and chemo? Are you giving yourself enough time? Are your expectations too high for right now? It sounds like you might just need to give yourself some time, and listen to your body for a bit longer. Remember it took you some period of time to get out of shape, so it will take at least that long to get back into shape.

Good luck!

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Another Cancer Guy wrote:
I am a long-time competitive runner who did surgery and 6 months of chemo last year. Running was one of my best friends throughout the treament. I was determined to not let my cancer stop me from doing something that I really enjoy. I returned to runnning 10 days after my surgery, and ran/jogged 50 miles-per-week all through the chemo. The loss of red blood cells really slowed me down, but I am convinced that keeping up my exercise was one of the main reasons that I had a relatively easy time getting through chemo, both physically and psychologically. Because I maintained my fitness, I was able to return to normal (other than some slight, lingering neuropathy) surprisingly quickly. Nine months after the end of my chemo, I ran the Masters Track & Field World Championships.

I don't say this to brag or make myself out to be a hero. Not everybody is as motivated/compulsive as I am about training. Everyone reacts differently to the surgery and drugs, and there is nothing easy about being a cancer victim. But, I do want to give you some hope. It is possible to maintain some semblance of your pre-cancer exercise routine, which can have big benefits, both physically and psychologically. My suggestion is that you take the attitude, "I'm happy just to be out here doing this", start back as slowly as you need to, and build up as you body allows.

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common wrote:
That's a very hard way for all of this to have gone down. I'm sorry, man.

That said, now you need to keep your chin up and take your opportunities where you find them. Not joking here, but is there a possibility that your anemia can be alleviated or at least substantially improved with EPO so that you *can* exercise as you would like to? It's a huge quality of life issue for you to be able to run, so I would think it's worth asking.

Best of luck and know you're in my thoughts, cancer guy. Fvck...onions.

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the cancer guy wrote:

Thanks for that link. Mine was also a sarcoma, but, primarily distributed in nature. Hundreds of small tumors, not a single one. Ewing's presents similarly to what she had. Great to see someone not get taken out by sarcoma. Some are highly treatable. Others are extremely the opposite. For now, I am No Evidence of Disease, but, my creatinine levels rarely drop below 3 and I am anemia in 4 of the 5 different ways possible. Without ever getting over that, I don't know how I'll progress. I know honestly part of this is a medical conversation, but, will power is something there is no medicine for.

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the cancer guy wrote:
I was diagnosed with cancer last year and have undergone a lot of chemo and a major surgery since then. I want to try to start to make a come back but my body just isn't quite what it was...in many ways. Has anyone had a serious set back like this and at least gotten back into it? I'm an old 15 flat 5k guy and if I "ran" three miles at 90% max heart rate right now I might break 45 minutes. And, that would nearly destroy me. I hardly feel like there's any point in my mid-30's to try and get back under 30 or 25 or 20 for 5k. I know it sounds insane to even my old self to call 15 minute pace running. But, I wish I could just go out and run. Forget racing and "training". I'd be happy for a jog. Just trying to see if I should officially black list letsrun on my router and pray I never see a jogger again.

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Groundskeeper Willie wrote:

the cancer guy wrote:
I was diagnosed with cancer last year and have undergone a lot of chemo and a major surgery since then. I want to try to start to make a come back but my body just isn't quite what it was...in many ways. Has anyone had a serious set back like this and at least gotten back into it? I'm an old 15 flat 5k guy and if I "ran" three miles at 90% max heart rate right now I might break 45 minutes. And, that would nearly destroy me. I hardly feel like there's any point in my mid-30's to try and get back under 30 or 25 or 20 for 5k. I know it sounds insane to even my old self to call 15 minute pace running. But, I wish I could just go out and run. Forget racing and "training". I'd be happy for a jog. Just trying to see if I should officially black list letsrun on my router and pray I never see a jogger again.

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Question? Where are you being treated? If not at a major cancer center, then get to one if you can. Second opinion!! You have to be your own advocate for your quality of life. Find a doc who will work with you on getting you back on your feet. A "regular" oncologist at some city hospital may not have the experience. If you get to a cancer hospital, they will be more interested in incorporating alternative therapies, which in your case may be getting in a few easy runs a week.