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In dealing with this cancer card and all of the stages of grief, I’m really good at bargaining. I’ve been pretty up front with the oncologist, nurse practitioner, and the occupational therapist about my goal to do a triathlon or at least a 5k, depending on my recovery. While I won’t be able to be a part of Team Phoenix this year, I found an end of August sprint tri in Indiana, where I’ll happen to be that weekend.
Decreased platelet counts are a possible side effect of Kadcyla, so prior to every infusion, labs will be drawn. The occupational therapist did tell me that platelet numbers can affect a patient’s activity level, so I’ll be sure to check with the oncologist to make sure I’m good to go.
After a month of occupational therapy and six weeks post-surgery, I’ve been cleared to resume exercise.
So I ran my first mile since February 2 in a nearby neighborhood that features a 1 mile loop with a slight incline and friends who live along the route. This is the same route that I often walked during chemo. I was just ready for the mile to be done towards the end, but I got it done. It was hard My cool down was longer than I expected for just a mile.
Two days later, I decided to suck it up and try on my swimsuits. I have three – a trisuit, a Lands’ End tankini, and a Lands’ End swimsuit. Although I only wear the trisuit in the final week before tri training and for tris, it actually still worked. The strap sits on my port, but this will work for any upcoming tris. But I prefer not wearing it since it makes me look more intense in the water than I really am.
The tankini top just didn’t work. The tankini top has a built-in soft cup bra, but my breast that is no longer there just looked smushed. I don’t have any particular desire to use the prosthetic breast while swimming, and sticking it in the swimsuit without a mastectomy pocket seems like flirting with danger.
The suit is a regular swimsuit without mastectomy pockets. To my relief, this suit works. The suit has gathering just under the bustline and enough compression that the empty side doesn’t appear dented. While I prefer not showing my port for all to see, the swimsuit strap does not sit in on my port.
Once I got over my swimsuit hangup about things not fitting right or looking right, I decided to hit the pool. It’s been forever and a day since I’ve gone swimming. I purchased new swim goggles and swim cap but put them aside after the cancer diagnosis in August. September was a month of appointments and tests. Chemo started in October. Then my hair fell out. Then the pool closed for cryptosporidium (twice) in November and I was not enthusiastic about getting into the water. Then I felt awful in December. Then I was benched from excessive water exposure thanks to hand foot syndrome in February and March. In April, I had the mastectomy.
Now I am 6 wks post-mastectomy. Now I am cleared for all exercise. Now I can run a mile. Now my hair is returning. Now the swim cap is moot. Now I can swim 60% of my usual “haven’t been in the water in forever” distance. Now my mind, body, and spirit can get back to the exercise that I missed.
I found my favorite lane, which is the side closest to the bleachers, and tested out my goggles. I warmed up and managed to swim 3 laps. My right arm was burning, in a good way, towards the end of 3 and I didn’t want to cause any extra burden to the lifeguard. Normally, I can swim 5 laps if I just jump back into the pool without training, so I’m pleased with 3 laps. I cooled down for a few more laps and called it a win after about fifteen minutes.
Yes, I wore my suit to the Y so I didn’t have to change in the locker room. Yes, I wore a baseball cap to and from the pool deck. Yes, I semi-changed in the shower staff when I was finished. But I got back into the pool. Baby steps or perhaps baby strokes.
