Running During Radiotherapy

[erin1090]

I just wanted to share my recent experience, in case it helps someone looking for information in future. I was diagnosed with DCIS (a very early stage breast cancer) in October. I had a lumpectomy at the end of October, and have had radiotherapy this month. Today is session 14 of 15 so I'm done tomorrow!

The kicker for me is that I spent most of last year focusing on health and fitness, because I turned 40 in March and thought it was about time to take it seriously. I'd been exercising every day, including 5 runs a week. At every stage of my health journey I was desperate to know if I could keep running or when I could get back to it. It turns out (I learned after surgery) a "brisk walk" doesn't cut it for me in terms of the mental health benefits of exercise. Too much time to think, unlike running where I'm focused more on my body. I'm more of a persistent runner than a natural runner, so I never thought I would get to a point where I was pestering doctors to let me run!

I wasn't sure how I would manage running during radiotherapy, so decided to wait and see. The advice from my medical team was that it was fine as long as I felt up to it in terms of skin irritation and fatigue. And I'm proud to say I've kept up with my normal running schedule so far. Including, yesterday, my first ever organised 10K, with Runthrough at Crystal Palace. And tomorrow marks a full year of exercising every day, even (gently) after surgery and biopsies!

I'm posting this because when you're looking online for how other people have coped with running through health challenges, it's much easier to find negative stories than positive ones. Next up for me in my treatment is Tamoxifen, and again I don't know how I'll cope or if I'll be able to keep running (joint pain in particular is a worrying side effect). But I'll stick to my schedule as long as I'm able to.

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10]

What determination! So impressed and it's great to hear of your progress. Best of luck with the next stage of your treatment.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Thanks for sharing your story and your positivity.

There are good news stories out there. My Mum had stomach cancer in 1971, she was in her 40s. The surgeon removed her stomach but didn't bother with radio or chemotherapy as he thought she only had 3 months to live. I am so happy to say she led a full and happy life, dying at 83 from something totally unrelated.

Good luck with your final radiotherapy treatment and let us know how the running goes

[Coddfish Graduate10]

Hi Erin, I am delighted to see you have been able to continue running through treatment.

I am a fellow runner with metastatic breast cancer, fortunately in remission. I have variously been treated with surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, microwave ablation, immunotherapy and more chemo. I have a lot of long term health impacts arising from my immune system over reacting during immunotherapy, and the steroids needed to calm this down. I have run through my ‘journey’ when possible; downtime has happened but I try to get back up and going. I am currently back into low level run/walking.

Like you I get frustrated that the medics don’t see it as important and think walking is enough. Serious walking on the downs or similar is needed to give me the same head space and boost that I can get from a short run.

I can’t give you advice on what impact tamoxifen might bring as my cancer isn’t hormonal so I haven’t needed oestrogen blockers. Wishing you all the best.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your story - you’re right, we need to read the positive stories too because everyone’s experience will be different, I guess.

Your 10k yesterday must have been a really emotional one and I hope you felt incredibly proud.💪🙂 Good luck with the next stage of your treatment - run when you can and rest when you need to.🙂

[erin1090 Graduate10]

Thank you all for the replies so far, it's nice to read your kind messages and will help on the days when I have a bit less motivation. Also wonderful Yesletsgo and Coddfish to hear of other good stories in different ways. Well done Coddfish on persevering despite all those treatments, and I'm so happy to hear you're in remission! But yes I definitely have a 'reaction' now when someone suggests swapping runs for brisk walks: for me it's exercise and mood boost but also feeling connected to normality and doing what I enjoy 😊

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

I have also had breast cancer, surgery and rads. I took Tamoxifen for 6 months but didn't like it, and as I was considered low risk for a reccurence came off it. I am 7 years in remission.

An oncologist at my local hospital (Addenbrookes) devised a way for cancer patients to keep moving, at their local Parkruns. Her name is Lucy Gossage and she is an amazing lady. They found that people have a better take up of chemo, and a better recovery if they keep moving.

I am an Ambassador for my local 5KYourWay, along with a couple of other ladies...here's the link.

moveagainstcancer.org/5k-yo...

[erin1090 Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

Oh wow, I have only done one Park Run years ago and had no idea this organisation existed! Thanks so much for sharing this Curlygurly2 there is one not too far from me and I think I will sign up. It's a difficult time and there's more to come, but there are such wonderful support groups out there to make it a bit easier.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to erin1090]

Oh good, I'm so pleased. It's a really nice thing to do, I still go after all these years.

Pease let me know how it goes xx

[Sammy-Lou]

thank you for sharing - sending all the best wishes and positivity to you! An inspiration!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Wow Erin, you’ve been through so much and it’s amazing how you’ve kept running through it all. You’re totally right about the mental health boost-when you’ve had your world turned upside down that’s when you need it most!

Wishing you all the best with your treatment and massive congratulations for your 10k ❤️❤️❤️

[sigasiga Graduate10]

Thank you for sharing your experience - what an inspirational post. Good luck with your continued recovery and running.

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Well done Erin. I was like you had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy , radiation 21 days , and then a year of herceptin. I was HEr2 positive, hormonal and on letrozole for 10 years but glad I am off that. Severe osteoporosis now. But the positive side of it i am 14 years since I had it as the doctor said the same chance as anyone now. Worked all through my treatment , did my exercise bike after chemo and then jogging and walking. Just walking now. But we’ll done and your positive attitude is good 😊🤗

[Oldlady57]

Fab news Erin!!. I was in the same boat 2022. I started running again 3 weeks after radiotherapy. My running is hit & miss due to side effects of letrazole. I walk upto 6 miles 4 times a week. The plan for 2025 is to run more regularly. Take care of yourself & be kind to yourself x

[erin1090 Graduate10]

Thank you all, what a fab community we have here ❤️

[Jogger22 Graduate10]

Thanks erin1090 for sharing and well done on keeping up with your running and managing to complete a 10k!. Good luck with your last radiotherapy treatment and I hope you are able to continue with your running once you start taking your medication. You and some of the other ladies in this chat are an inspiration to some of us fellow sufferers xx🫠

[CosmicWelsh]

what a great post! Well done on continuing your running and for coming out the other side of your treatment. Truly inspiring!