Hi. I am still really surprised at my recent diagnosis of adenocarcinoma non small cell lung cancer. I was running regularly up until arch 30th 2020 and was diagnosed in early May. I am Female, 67, have never even tried a cigarette (or smoked any other substance!!). I'm slim and fit running regular 10K once or twice a week and a 5K Park Run every week until the shutdown and have had a good diet. I work as a social worker (currently off sick) and have just started combination immune and chemotherapy. I am sanguine about my prospects but want to stay as fit as possible - difficult during the shielding - but as I live in the country and near the coast, I can get to areas to walk where there are no other people and walking 3-4K most days.. I live with my husband. I can't have surgery.
That's me.
I just wondered if there is anyone else out there in a similar situation and how they are managing to keep their fitness levels up when on treatment. I'm not bothered about returning to running (although it would be nice to think I could). Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks, M.
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magstherunner
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welcome to our forum, I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis of lung cancer, this must have been a great shock to you. It sounds as though you are responding well to treatment, as long as you feel able keeping fit is a great way to stay feeling positive positive. Remember that cancer treatments can cause fatigue so listen to your body and dont push yourself to hard, you can ask the cancer nurse specialist for particular advice on the amount of exercise you should attempt
If you wish to discuss anything we have a free nurse led helpline on 0800 358 7200
Do talk to your doctor about resuming activities. Don’t limit yourself too much though. I follow a woman on social media who has stage 4 lung cancer and owns & runs a cross-fit training studio.
Hi I’m in a similar situation to you - diagnosed last September out of the blue - regular exercise with personal trainer and long distance walking really felt fit. It’s just a random thing I suppose.
I’ve been doing Pilates at home and my trainer has given me some exercises to do although I can’t always do it if feeling unwell from side effects. I’ve also ordered a cross trainer but there’s obviously a run on those as it won’t be delivered until August!
I’m on immunotherapy which seems to be working ok just have side effects which are quite unpleasant at times!
Hopefully your treatment will be as effective so good luck with it!
Thank you for your advice. I will try Pilates and also try to keep my limbs in decent order if I can! So far I have minimal side effects but do feel tired and breathless and this can lead to laziness on my part - any excuse. I live in a small cottage so no space here for any equipment, although there are a set of 12 and then 13 steps to the upper floors of the house to ascending several times a day! I need to get my act together - although with not being at work I am enjoying time to read. Keep on keeping on and hope the lockdown doesn't last for ever.
I was in a similar situation to you I was diagnosed in August 2019 and was still regularly doing Pilates and swimming 30 lengths and also a non smoker so I was shocked at the diagnosis. I had an operation and stopped swimming and Pilates while I recovered but I slowly built my walking back up. I started Pilates again as soon as I could and kept this going through chemotherapy and had just started swimming again when lockdown started. I have been cycling during lockdown as I find this is easier to avoid people. I have kept this up through my radiotherapy which I have recently finished. I had to tailor my exercise to fit in with my treatment, e.g missing classes when I was vomiting too much from the chemo but going on weeks 2&3 of my chemo cycle.
Hi Vickie. Yep, the lockdown surely is a real pain! I admit, although a good swimmer, I do find it rather boring and prefer to be outdoors. I have a bike and can cycle around the lovely area I live in but I get quite breathless - one of the symptoms I told my doctor about - he took this seriously when I said it was so bad I couldn't possibly run! I have a tendency to be a bit lazy so I need to get into gear and stop making excuses. I've been lucky so far re side effects although I've only had one round of treatment - just a couple of days of sickness but an injection sorted that out. I have to say the NHS has been brilliant and my lung nurse rings me every week to make sure I am being a model patient. I am determined to make the most of my time and not to be defined by a diagnosis. Take care of yourself and good luck with your treatment.
So very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and can imagine and sympathise with your surprise and indeed shock. I also have adenocarcinoma with bone mets. Like you I am a never smoker of any substance, have always tried to keep fit and eat a pretty healthy diet. I am 57 and was diagnosed in 2016.
Whilst pacing myself given the fatigue caused by the cancer and as a side effect of treatment, I still try to do what I can to maintain my fitness. I have a cross trainer and hand held weights at home, which I regularly use. I do zoom physio led pilates sessions which are great for improving core strength, posture and breathing and zoom exercise classes run by our local Hospice and designed specifically for people suffering with fatigue and breathlessness. I have been amazed by how much exercise is possible even just sitting on a chair! I have also found singing helps. Our Hospice runs a singing for lung health group which is also now done via zoom. The breathing exercises we do to warm up and the singing itself are really helpful with breathing and posture and also give a great wellbeing boost. I try to get outside when the weather is good for the fresh air and exercise pottering in the garden. Recently I have had some short walks too whilst being careful to maintain social distancing. We currently have no known active Covid cases on the Isle of Man so there is limited risk.
It is obviously more of a challenge when shielding but definitely still possible to keep fit and thank goodness for technology!
Hope your treatment proves very successful and you find ways of maintaining your fitness that you enjoy. Also hope a return to running may prove possible for you. x 🏃♀️ 💕
your fitness will have helped and continue to help you.... keep it up. I was a regular distance swimmer (130 lengths 3-4 times a week) when I was diagnosed, 52 and a never smoker. The shock is really how many of us never knew that anyone with lungs can develop lung cancer due to a lifetime's belief that only smokers get it. This needs changing - and the campaign Roy Castle ran last year LikeMe aimed to improve awareness particularly for doctors and general public to take concerns by people usually fit and well more seriously. Glad you're having a positive caring experience during lockdown. I'm seriously missing my swimming - I know some find it boring but I've never been able to get breathing rhythm right when running and find walking boring! Each to their own... I'm walking most days for about an hour but this is a serious reduction on my usual 10-11 hours swimming a week so losing lung conditioning. There are some good suggestions on BLF so here's a couple of links you may find helpful.
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