Hi all! Raced in Ironman 70.3 Waco yesterday! My 2nd half since being diagnosed with CLL/SLL in 2011. I turn 50 in January. You don’t need to do an Ironman, but you do need to MOVE! *And, walking absolutely counts as exercise! Take your time, listen to your body & do what’s fun (for you)! Almost no MDs have adequate knowledge of Exercise Oncology, but you do need to get their ok if you’re concerned/have questions.
Go on Twitter/ IG / Facebook & search #exerciseoncology or #exercisefightscancer
Raising the noise for the benefits of exercise for Cancer Survivors is a passion of mine, so I’m happy to chat with anyone!
-Jollie
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Another extreme sportsman among us! Glad to see yesterday's 50 miles poster is not alone! 😁 The best exercise is the one a person can continue doing indefinitely. Doesn't matter what it is. Any kind of movement is better than none.
I think you are all (both?) huge show-offs.. [I’m at least half joking!]..and.. well, I look up to you both!
However, at 49, BJollie is a mere whippersnapper! I accuse him of simply being young — yes, take that! ..you energetic youth you! — take my advice, the advice of an.. err.. [counts on his fingers year by year until he reaches.. ] ..18 months older guy.. err.. or don’t!!
Ironman.. sounds rusty to me.
I just moved house and missed the bus to town — must get a bike up here — so started to walk.. I was thinking about the next half mile to a mile..
Ended up walking 3.5 miles to town, then a little more around and another mile to a mate’s [ pandemic isolation realities aside, I live in a very small compass ] and I must say it felt really good — help tone muscles, trim my waist, and discover that I’m really no distance from centre of the local, small, County city ‘metropolis’; in truth it felt a huge amount better after refreshments.
However, I’d be very grateful if you dedicate a training swim to me, as.. when I’m in the water, I feel like a fish out of water..
I’m interested that you were treated within a year of diagnosis.
Hey Leo! Crazy way to be diagnosed-severe fatigue & a loud wheeze (was 39). Largest lymph node was pressing against my airway causing the wheeze. Since airway obstruction, we started BR right awaySide note-I LOVE swimming now! Closest thing to flying we could experience. Get into a rhythm & feel like I could go forever!
Super impressive even not under the circumstances. I totally agree it's important to move, and a reminder to do more. I am in the airport on my way to Cincinnati to see Dr. Byrd and not exactly in the mood to exercise, but it's about a mile from terminal A to F at PHL and I forced some exercise by going through TSA pre-check at A and doing the walk. This was planned and in general, I get more movement in when it's not left to chance.
Well done and congratulations and I’m really glad you feel able to do this. Please carry on as long as you can. Please also don’t take this as any kind of criticism more as a “woe is me” with, perhaps, just a touch of reading your post increased the woe a bit.
I am very lucky that I am still early stages with minimal side effects. Unfortunately one of them (might be immune system attacking my joints, might run in the family, might just be one of those things) is occasional arthritis. It flares up from time to time and stops me walking more than a few hundred yards. I am desperate to restart my regular four or five mile mile walks (as you rightly say I found it helped both slowing progression of cll and mentally) and terrified that this time the arthritis won’t go and that’s it, no more walking.
Right. As I said, I am very fortunate that I am still in a good (ish) place compared to so many people on here and I stand a good chance that I will get my hip joints back in a month or so. Many people are not so fortunate. Of course excercise is good for what ails us and I appreciate your enthusiasm (I really do) - it just made me sad when I read it that I couldn’t do what I did and that there must be so many people on here who would love to be able to walk a mile or so (or have the time!)
Anyway, moan over and good luck to you. Long may you continue. Which given the level of fitness you’re starting from should be a long time.
Totally get that -we all “moan” from time to time My 20 yo daughter has horrible joint pain (EDS) & can’t walk 100 yd without pain. She absolutely loves swimming though!! Good luck!
Congratulations Iron Man. A post like yours is so important for people like me. I often forget that Cll/Sll is not the end of the world but a different way to view it. Please be aware of how important your posts are for people like me. I'll get off my butt and get moving again.
My husband is a two time Ironman with 3 70.3s too. It's so much fun to spectate! He also has CLL but competed with his type 1 diabetes endurance crew. He's hung up the bike just due to the time commitment and the age of our kids but he still runs everyday and I know it's so good for his CLL.
I struggle with the time commitment too! Our girls are 24, 20 & 4, so to cutback on time & spend more with my fam, I’m shaking things up after my race & focusing on getting my 5k time as low as I can. Told my wife I’d push my goal of a full Ironman back until I retire!
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