Swimming advice

[Kazzh]

Hello to all you amazing, strong, determined beautiful ladies 😍

I have always been an avid regular swimmer, the last 5 years I have swam in the sea and lakes mainly. However, my oncologist advised against swimming atall during treatment due to the significant risk of infection and the possible impact of chemicals from pools on the skin, and definitely not hot tubs and saunas, not that I use either of these. I can understand, Yet I have seen that many patients undergoing chemotherapy are still swimming so it seems views do differ on this.

As you can imagine, I miss it so much, I'm losing muscle tone (probably because I've lost weight too during treatment) and I cannot wait to get back to it. I found a private pool I could use, albeit more expensive, where I can go first thing in the morning so the pool has been cleaned overnight, and noone else is in it, and my consultant agreed to this..halleluyah! I have had only one swim though (which was bliss) as then I had surgery & my wound wasn't completely healed. But it is now and I am going tomorrow morning, can't wait. I definitely think I would have coped far better had I been able to swim all through, as its also my peace time, mindfulness & all round me time.

Anyway, just wondered about others experiences, has anyone got an infection from swimming during treatment, or have people just made their own decisions and swam regardless with no issues? I do tend to go by my oncologist advice as she is the one with years of experience in all this, not me.

Thanks!

[Fluffyjumper]

I’m sorry I can’t answer your question but would love to know the answer. Swimming was the activity I missed the most, swimming keeps me sane. I know that I had to wait until 8 weeks after surgery which was purgatory and recommended not to swim during chemo.

[Cardiff05]

If your white blood cells are low your risk of infection increase but my guess is they're being monitored regularly other than that perhaps skin sensitivity.Lots of info out there on the benefits of physical exercise when living with a diagnosis.

[lesleysage]

Hello Kazzh, it is over 10 years ago since my last chemo (dose dense carbo-taxol + Avastin) and to help me keep swimming in a neighbour's 'private pool' I had a porta-cath fitted as my veins had given up completely by this second occurrence and the oncologist didn't want me to swim with an ordinary line in. Like you & Fluffyjumper, I found swimming and also small amounts of yoga stretching really helpful to keep me positive through the hard days of chemo.

Certainly my GP didn't want me swimming in a public pool until my white cell count was 'well back to normal' or 'Tesco-proof' as he called it!

Good luck, be kind to yourself and take care. Warmest wishes.

[Fluffyjumper in reply to lesleysage]

I also found yoga and gentle Pilates helpful. The stretching then meditation helped me a lot on those ‘down’ days when I felt exhausted and emotional, and too tired to walk.

[Kazzh in reply to lesleysage]

Thank you Lesley, & I just wanted to say that it's amazing you are 10 years in now & well. That gives me alot of hope for the future. Long may it continue 💗xxx

[OCacc]

Hey Kazzh, my oncologist said it was ok to swim during treatment but I was really worried about catching an infection as bloods weren’t great throughout. Now my chemo is done, I’ve been back (in a private gym pool) and it’s so good to move again. As I had back-to-back abdominal surgery last year, my abdominal muscles are pretty much non existent. The water really helps getting that feeling back and it’s great to also do exercises in the pool that are far more gentle than doing sit-ups on a mat! 😆

My physio is also very pro swimming. Enjoy your time back in the water! 😊

[delia2]

I didn’t really worry about such risks ( pre-Covid). When I was on caelyx I wouldn’t have swum because of the skin issues.

[Lizchips]

If my cancer returns I will use a port. You can go in jacuzzi, swing, beach etc. they seal and skin closes in about 2 days after chemo it doesn't stop your life like a pic line. Which I didn't do. I did IV and IP chemo. But they blew out a lot of my veins. Best wishes Liz

[Lizchips]

Kazzh, I also got massages. I have horses. I never got any infection.

[SopSinger]

A clean private pool should present minimal risks. But with the state of our (UK) coasts and waterways, I wouldn't risk it, in fact I still wouldn't now, nearly 18 years after completing chemo.

[Sherrym]

I swam all thru my treatments & still do on oliparib. The chemo nurses were not keen for me to do so during infusion times, but my onco thought it was ok as I live on a tiny island -super clean sea.

Always check on water safety first…. That’s yr best bet. Too many rivers & bays are polluted these days