PaulB,

I read your comments about not working out too hard with considerable interest.

I've spent the last day pondering this, and after careful consideration, I have to say that I disagree with you conclusion about that, even though I agree with everything else you recommend.

My first Tx regimen was when I was 70, I'm 74 today and I'm taking Xeloda (my cycles are 14 days of 2500mg/day; followed by 7 days w/o chemo.)

I'm in my off-week of my third cycle and will have a PET on 10/1 (I start my 4th cycle on Monday) to assess progress on knocking down the latest set of tumors in my liver. This is my third recurrence, but won't be my last because I'm Stage IVc. (100% mortality in 5 years.)

Fatigue is probably the most common side effect of nearly any chemo, and I'm really feeling it in the gym right now. This week, I'm using to build back, but yesterday, when the concentration (of chemo in my system) was at its peak, I could only complete three of my rounds (a round is 20 pushups, 10 pullups and 10 dips). Tomorrow I hope to complete four; and by friday, five.

When I had my first recurrence, it was treated with IV infusions of Carboplatin and Taxol (later switched to Taxetere to reduce hearing loss.) Cycles were one infusion/week for 3 weeks plus a week off. I had a total of 7 or 8 cycles, and at least twice, was refused (did not get any chemo) because my immune system had crashed, or my red cells had.

Those were the only two times I missed a day in the gym (and a hard work out) in that 7 or 8 month period. My gym days are always M-W-F, and every other week, I was working out hard on the Friday after my infusion on Thursday.

Oddly enough, the Xeloda gives me more fatigue than the Carb/Tax mixture, but I still make a fairly quick recovery. I'll report tomorrow if I fail to get 4 rounds.