Every day I move a little farther away from having undergone active treatment for cancer, to dealing with treating the remnants of cancer complications that have affected my body.

Each phase of treatment brought some side effects to overcome. Some have passed, others still linger.


Daily Dates at the Gym

With physiotherapy treatments and rigorous daily workouts at the gym, I am regaining upper body strength and range of motion of the right side of my torso, shoulder, and arm. My cardio rate is now at 80-90% of its maximum when I use aerobic machines. I can sustain this rate beyond a half hour, which is far better than when I first returned to exercise the day after radiation ended and had difficulty slowly walking laps.

One of my treating physiotherapists says the affects of radiation on body tissue are akin to shrink-wrapping the affected areas. Together, we are working on scar tissue release, massage, and exercises to break down the scarring so that my body can work well. With a double dose of scar tissue from the mastectomy and radiation, and previous limited mobility in my upper back from childhood spinal surgery, the challenge to heal and move effectively is even greater.

One of my medical caregivers has said that the achy and creaky muscles and joints that I am experiencing are not my imagination. They are another side effect of cancer treatments, and the drugs that are used to treat patients. Fortunately, the aches and pains settle once I’ve done my daily exercises. The daily jaunts to the “Y” are helping the achy-ness and my sleep.

Happily, I am also down three clothing sizes to what I wore when I was in chemotherapy last fall. I am possibly the most fit that I have ever been in my adult life.

The Y trips are also helping to condition my body for the 2011 Challenge for Life 20K walk in support of CancerCare MB, on June 11. To see my progress in raising funds for this cause that is close to my heart, click on this link:

http://www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=708&frsid=2997

It has been reported that daily exercise can potentially aid cancer patients with their brain/chemo fog and memory loss. I’m hoping that the 5-6 days per week of exercise will also help my memory.

The cancer physical rehab is a tedious process, and I am a Type A “impatient” patient. It is teaching me that I have to be patient with my body as it continues to heal and recuperate. In this area of my life, I am still a student and cancer is still the teacher.


Other Side Effects

With the active phase of treatment completed, I am becoming more educated about other side effects from members of my medical team. My nurse educator says residues from chemotherapy can remain in a patient’s body from six months to one year post-treatment.

She also says that dealing with overall post treatment complications can be up to two years after the last treatment has ended, which for me is December 2013. In rare cases, recovery can take even longer. Sometimes some of the patient’s functions may not be regained. This is the “wait and see” part of cancer recovery.

A tight, tender, and tingly scalp that was similar to when my hair was falling out with chemo arrived again when my hair started to grow back. It continues to grow and is whiter than it was before chemo. It is now very curly, which has changed my appearance--so much so, that people who have known me pass by and don’t recognize me. I wait with curiosity to see if the curls will go when regular haircuts start.

Chemo treatments have affected my eyesight, and can potentially cause cataracts. There is also a small risk that my body can develop leukemia as a result of having had chemotherapy treatments.


Breast Cancer Survivor Research Study

I am enrolled in a local breast cancer survivor research study that combines physiotherapy, exercise, and nutrition. Studies are showing that daily exercise by breast cancer patients post treatment can reduce the risk of recurrence. It is to be a part of our daily lives in living the “new normal” as cancer patients.

Part of this study involves wearing a pedometer to track my daily steps. The goal is to get the 10 study participants to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps daily, as well as adding some strength training, flexibility exercises, and proper nutrition to help prevent a cancer recurrence.

We are tracking our daily foods, which are being monitored by a registered dietician. A personal trainer takes us through daily exercise routines, while physiotherapy researchers monitor our strength, flexibility, endurance, and cardio capacity.


Brain Fog Classes

To address ongoing issues that come up with my short-term memory loss, I have enrolled in an eight-week “Brain Fog” program to retrain my memory. “Brain fog” is believed to come from an assortment of contributors that cancer patients deal with including the disease itself, chemotherapy, other drugs used to treat cancer, fatigue, chemically induced menopause, and memory loss that comes naturally with aging.

It is interesting to talk to other cancer patients about the condition, as it is a real side effect that those who have not undergone treatment cannot completely understand. The condition can be quite embarrassing when one can’t find words, or remember details while in the middle of a conversation with someone. Loved ones have been very patient with me as I search for words, try to remember details, or retrace my steps to try to remember what I was doing. Also, as a reader, I look forward to being able to read and retain information again, which poses a challenge for me now.

I continue to work through these barriers with a dogged determination to get my body back to a healthy and strong state. The barriers are small challenges compared to surviving cancer treatments and their related complications. I am making daily strides in getting better and do so with Strength, Courage, and Determination.