Love the chemo break!

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Ashlee H.
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Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:50 pm
Location: Southern California

Love the chemo break!

Postby Ashlee H. » Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:04 pm

How I love being on a chemo break!! It's only been a month, but I'm starting to feel like my old self again. My sense of smell is back and my eye sight has gotten better. I am finding I get very excited about life and doing things, and then I just crash with exhaustion - but I'll take it. I know my body is trying so hard to repair the damage from the last chemo (CPT11/Zaltrap). I had a gym membership for years, but the one I went to closed, and I didn't want to travel to the next closest one. I know we have a few advocates here for exercise, and studies have shown it is beneficial in battling cancer. Recently, I started therapy for my foot and get to ride the bike - I felt so much better. So...off to a gym to sign up. Not to bash men, but this is a woman's only gym. It's clean, nothing is ripped, everything works - and no loud grunting sounds as they pull weights (the same weight I've pulled). And, to top it off, this place has a Class A spa - and a monthly treatment is part of the package. It feels so good to stretch the muscles, use the muscles, and then get the muscles massaged. I've had so many years of doctors appointments and medical treatments it is nice to spoil myself trying to be the best I can be even though I've been kidnapped by cancer. And...if the exercise helps to keep the cancer stable...or DIE....I'm all for it.
Now, when I go back on chemo....I'll be curious if I'll have the energy to continue with some type of exercise program - but I'll worry about that another day.....
- Ashlee
Stage IV w/liver met dx 7-1-09
KRAS Mutant
Member of the HIPECKERS (2011) and OLYMPHIANS (2012)
2/14 - standard chemo has stopped working
3/14 - Stivarga
LIVE LIFE!

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BrownBagger
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Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:56 pm
Location: Central NYS

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby BrownBagger » Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:19 pm

Great news, Ashlee. It's been about six months for me, but I do recall my last chemo break. It felt so good to have my strength and stamina return. I remember looking up at the clock in the kitchen in the evening, and being amazed that it was 10:00 or 11:00 already. I'm rarely up that late on chemo. And yes, your lust for life kind of returns when you're not being poisoned on a regular basis.

As you know, I still get plenty of exercise while on chemo, and I think it helps me a lot. Something worth keeping up with if you can when/if you get back on "the juice."

My last recurrence followed a long period of relative inactivity for me, so I'm hoping that my much more active summer schedule will help forestall future outbreaks. Who knows, but it's a good source of encouragement.
Eric, 58
Dx: 3/09, Stage 4 RC
Recurrences: (ongoing, lung, bronchial cavity, ribs)
Major Ops: 6/ RFA: 3 /bronchoscopies: 8
Pelvic radiation: 5 wks. Bronchial radiation—brachytheray: 3 treatments
Chemo Rounds (career):136
Current Chemo Cocktail: Xeloda & Erbitux & Irinotecan biweekly
Current Cocktail; On the Wagon (mostly)
Bicycle miles post-dx 10,477
Motto: Live your life like it's going to be a long one, because it just might, and then you'll be glad you did.

NWgirl
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Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:24 am
Facebook Username: Belle Piazza
Location: Battle Ground, Washington

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby NWgirl » Wed Jul 24, 2013 5:55 pm

You go girl!
Belle - "Don't Retreat - Reload"DX 10/07 Stage III Rectal
Surgery 11/07; 27 of 38 nodes
Perm Colostomy 8/11
12/10 recurrence lungs & LN's
VATS Jan 2011
Radiation Oct 2013
Chemo for Life
2012 Colondar Model

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mstults
Posts: 1327
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:23 am

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby mstults » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:00 pm

Congrats. I just started a 3 weeks break today and am so glad but a little apprehensive.
Male Age 53. Dx CC with numerous liver mets 6/23/12. Colon res 6/24/12. Started folfox 7/24/12. Added avastin 8/27/12. CT 12/27/12 still showing shrink. Took 17 rounds of FOLFOX. Then 5-FU + Avastin. Switched to Irinotecan for 1 yr. CEA rose to >400. Switched to Vectibix 2/18/15. CEA decreasing. Scans show some growth in liver mets. Lung Mets stable to shrinking.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.stults2/about?ref=home_edit_profile&section=work

michelle c
Posts: 1929
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:58 am

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby michelle c » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:02 pm

Good for you Ashlee! The gym sounds wonderful! Enjoy!
May 25 2009 Dx with CC (sigmoid colon) 2 days after my 44th b'day
CEA prior to surgery 4.7
Jun 3 2009 LAR - Stage III 3/10 lymph nodes
Jul 6 - Dec 10 2009 - 12 cycles FOLFIRI
Genetic testing - inconclusive for Lynch
Jul 2012 port removed & hernia repair

smokeyjoe
Posts: 137
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:40 am

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby smokeyjoe » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:07 pm

Oh, Ashley Enjoy!!!!! A massage after a workout sounds soooooo goooood :lol:

wifenurse
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:05 pm

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby wifenurse » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:14 pm

Enjoy the heck out of the spa treatments. Glad that you are feeling better and enjoying this much deserved break from chemo.
Christy
Wife of Jayson, diagnosed Oct 2009 CRC - age 39
Radiation & Chemotherapy Nov-Dec 2009
Colon & Liver resection Feb 2010 - Stage IV
Folfox + Avastin X 12 treatments - finished Aug 2010
NED 10/10, 1/11, 7/11, & 12/11

vancouver eve
Posts: 1507
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:04 pm
Location: Vancouver

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby vancouver eve » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:25 pm

You deserve to pamper yourself. Enjoy the break you have.

skypup
Posts: 2598
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:12 pm

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby skypup » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:39 pm

Good for you, Ashlee! Isn't it amazing how fast our bodies bounce back from months of punishment?!

kiwiinoz
Posts: 1170
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:44 pm

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby kiwiinoz » Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:56 pm

Ahslee,
after 4 months of folfox, with 2 months to go I am really with you on the chemo break and getting back to a "normal life" no matter how temporary it may be.
Enjoy it and may it be a long one
Kiwi
Stage IV Rectal Cancer (39 Year old male at dx)
pT3N0M1 (wish that was M0)
Diagnosed 05 Dec 2012
LAR 05 Jan 2013
VATS 27 Feb 2013
FOLOFX April 2013 - Sep 2013
Clear Scan 03 Dec 2013 - August 2020
Port Out 26 March 2015

vickitwo
Posts: 696
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:56 am
Location: USA

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby vickitwo » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:06 pm

:D GOOD FOR YOU!
Vicki

DH Dx 1/2012 @ age 52
stage IV CC
transverse colon,omentum, cecum,liver,lungs,L5
9 rounds of Folfox, Avastin,
5FU/Leucovorin/Avastin
radiation tx to L5 and hips
Folfiri/Zaltrap
12/13/13 Folfox/Avastin
1/4/2014 passed away @ Hospice House- age 54

SammyJ
Posts: 198
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:03 pm
Facebook Username: Samantha.douglas

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby SammyJ » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:40 pm

Good on you for taking that step - can remember how hard it was to get back into it after just one lot of chemo, let alone what you have done. Am so glad to hear you are feeling so much better x
Diagnosed Stage 3A Rectal Cancer March 12, age 39
ULAR and temp ileostomy March 12
Folfox started April 12 , completed Oct 12.
NED 16/10/12
Ileostomy reversal 23 Nov 12....

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edinaman
Posts: 1108
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:15 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby edinaman » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:51 pm

Ashlee, that is great news. Take care of yourself and spoil yourself at the spa.
Jeff
Went in for surgery for a cyst on my bladder, and they found colon cancer growing on the outside of the colon. Got to have two surgeries at the same time! Stage 3, one node involved.

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ConnieSPK
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Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 6:28 pm
Facebook Username: Connie Perkins Kreienheder
Location: Dardenne Prairie, MO

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby ConnieSPK » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:24 am

Hi Ashlee,

Glad you're enjoying your deserved break. I had that little break back around the 4th and it was SOOOO nice....now I'm back on the juice until late November. I've never been a big exerciser, I was traumatized by the Kennedy administration in grade school gym glass, so never much of an athlete either (it took me about 10 years to learn how to bowl decently). I do have a "Fit Desk" bike, though, and I can generally pedal about 30 minutes (after you get past the first 10). I don't have much resistance on it, but moving the joints is good and I can put my laptop on it and amuse myself while trying to ignore the fact that I'm exercising. I quit while on Zaltrap, just felt too crummy and was also worried about BP/heartrate with that drug....not taking that one again unless Avastin stops working for me.

I spend too much time on the couch, though, but I do chase a 4 year old around every other week (my oldest grandson), so that forces me to my feet pretty often. Keep enjoying every day you can. I lived in CA for about 10 years, and you certainly can't beat the weather there (although we're getting a nice little summer here in STL MO this year)

Have fun,

Connie K.
Dx08@54,StgIV Colon,Liver,Lung, ColonSurg,FOLFOX+Beva
09 LiverSurg
10 FOLFIRI+Beva
11 FOLFOX+Beva,ox reaction
12 Bi-lat LungVATS
13 New mets L lung FOLFIRI+Zaltrap,5FU reaction
14 Return mets L lung SBRT,successful
15 Lung Spots, Irinotecan

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Kathryn in MN
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Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:25 am
Facebook Username: Kathryn Finn-Blume
Location: Minnesota & Mexico
Contact:

Re: Love the chemo break!

Postby Kathryn in MN » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:27 am

Woohoo! So glad you did get back to the gym and that you are feeling better and enjoying it! I know how you feel, and those chemo breaks are heaven - even if you still get fatigued easier than you'd like. Keep enjoying the improvements and the gym! (What keeps me going is the hope and thoughts of my next chemo break...)
CRC AUG09 Age 47
Sig Res T4a N2a Mx, KRAS mut codon13
Mets bones & nodes
FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, Avastin, Radiation
Irinotecan, Zaltrap & STAR RFA
APR13 pleurisy & ascites - more chemo & draining
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathrynblume


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