Hey everyone,

I wanted to get an idea when it will likely be possible to get back into exercise and endurance activities post treatment.

I have a bike ride/race I do yearly that occurs every June 16th. It is 150miles, 1 day, and quite hilly, but I am able to go relatively slowly (as slow as a all day average of 16mph). Is it crazy for me to even entertain the thought that I could try doing this? My treatment started 2 wks ago and would end March 29th.

To give you a bit of an idea on my athletic stupidity/luck: I ran the boston marathon without training (4hr finish) and 2wks before my diagnosis, I made it up to about 18k on a 20k glaciated mountain (had a stomach flu and got sick unfortunately). I regularly used to bike 50-100+ miles at a time. I don't exercise every day, but most often I go big and long when I do (and often times with not as much training as I should, for better or for worse).

I'm thinking I want to try to sign up and push myself once I'm through, but am not sure if I'm crazy... I have done it 3yrs now, and do it with 5-10 friends - its now a tradition. The unfortunate bit is its $300, unrefundable, if I'm not able to ride!

Thanks for the insight

You can do anything you want, if that's what you want to do, and set your mind to it. You are young, so your recovery will be different than someone who is older, and each person is different in how they respond, recover to treatments due to many factors. I guess if you are posting during treatment, that's a good sign. I was never able to post during mine. Most recover from acute toxicities by the 3rd month, but some have long term toxicities, which can improve over time, and sometimes not. Prognosis is also influenced by how well you do during treatment, maintaining weight, pain, eating, no delay in treatment, etc, so if you are doing well so far, hopefully it continues to the end, and then can resume your activities. Be well, and good luck.

Andrew,

That's a tough call. I am out 14 weeks and I atrophied considerably. For a solid two months I went from bed to coach to bed. My arms and legs look a lot differnt now. On the good side my belly looks a lot different too.

I have a 20 or so 10k on my running shoes, but I an no way ready to run. I still get a little light headed went I push my self. (Day to day stuff not training). Dry mouth is also a problem for me. Up until now my doc's were not encouraging high levels of activity for me. I am hoping for a green light soon.

I believe in goals, especially when in battle mode. In the big sceem of things, 300 bucks is nothing compaired to what ever help you through treatment and keeps you motivated. If you can do this, that would be one hell of a acomplishment.

Remember, When going thru Hell, Keep Going! (Some army guy)

I think you should go for it. It's something you are passionate about and that is half the battle. Wear an OCF T shirt and a bracelet and make it an awareness venture....
Let us know what you decide!!
Kathy

That depends on you an your body. I was quite perky at the end of June and I'd finished treatment may 4. But I had an okay time of rads - relatively speaking. Not everyone does. Bet of luck and we'll be cheering you on if you do. Try to walk daily through radiation if you can I walked my dog daily once or twice a day - studies show a better outcome. Take care

I think I'll give it a shot once I check with my doctors and confirm they don't immediately reject it. Worst case I'm out $300, which in the grand scheme of cancer bills and expenses is nothing!

I realize this may seem like somewhat of a trivial post in the grand scheme of things. However, I feel that continuing to live your life normally and planing for the future, although it may be difficult or impossible at times, seems to help a bit with everything that has changed in my life over the past months. Its a bit of something to keep you focused on the future, that you will make it through the treatment and hopefully to the greener pastures of health.

I wouldn't be able to wear an OCF shirt (have to wear the race jersey and numbers), but maybe I could make some custom OCF bike shorts or some sort of logo to paste on the jersey below the race numbers. Maybe someone could get me some high resolution images/logos and I can see if I can find someone who makes custom printed bike shorts.

I'd love to spread awareness of this disease. I think I'd be somewhat of a shocking patient - not the normal at least!

Hey Andrew,

I am 39 and was in reasonable shape prior to being diagnosed. I finished treatment 7 weeks ago and am still fighting fatigue. I have a really hard time putting in an 8 hour day at a desk job. Calories is my major challenge now and was during treatment.

Go for the ride - make sure you get in the calories during treatments as others have said. I opted not to get a feeding tube so eating became difficult for me in weeks 4-7 and 4 weeks post treatment. I am still not back to eating normally, but every day it gets better.

Stay strong.