Exercise: good or bad?

[GlendaS]

I have a love/hate relationship with the gym. I can't stand to go until I get into a habit of it. Then, I love it.  I had a cyst last Dec. I really started watching my diet from around the end of January on and it shrunk and by May it eventually dissolved. In June, I decided to start going to the gym again. I worked out 4-5 days per week for at least an hour, doing 30 mins. of cardio and the rest of the time weight training. The only time I had to go is in the morning before work because of childcare issues (I have a 17 month old son), plus my gym is really crowded in the early evening.When I went back to get checked by the doctor in Sept, he discovered another cyst on my ovary, a high-grade cervical lesion, and one of my tumor markers was elevated (CA 19.9,CA 125 was okay-both were at 295 when I had cancer). I stopped exercising and in Oct. the CA 19.9 level was back down 8 points and the cyst has slightly shrunk. I went back to the gym (3-4 days a week) when I heard that everything was okay. I also had a LEEP for the cervical lesion at the end of Oct. It was NOT cancer, thank God, but was told it was the step right before. In Nov., the CA-19.9 was back up 6 points and the cyst was much larger. I have now been told I need surgery for the cyst and have a second opinion gyn/onc appt. on Mon. When I developed ov/ca (discovered a yr ago Oct), I was working out like crazy to lose pregnancy lbs. Is there a link between exercise and my immune system being weakened or is it just a coincidence?  I like to work out to keep my figure, but am scared to go back now.

[rmarie]

Don't be scared to exercise, just take everyting in moderation.  Having been through cancer and surgery is tiring and recovery is fatiquing.  You have children and they demand your time, and energy.  I am 62, with no children and the exercise I do is what my husband and I do to maintain a weight loss we started 2 years ago.  The most important thing is to be gentle on yourself, do things in moderation.  However I found staying in shape helped me get through it all.  Good luch with your next Dr. appointment.

[GlendaS]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go back to working out, but take it slowly. Maybe my lack of sleep when I go to the gym is what has affected me adversely. I guess I will just have to try to go to bed really early if I'm going to get up and go to the gym......

[rmarie]

I have OVCA stage 3, and I believe that it kept my cancer from being more advanced than it could have been.  Exercise has been shown to boast the immune system.  I had started exercising 2 years before diagnosis, 1 of cardio a day and weights 3X a week.  It helped get me out of the hospital in 2 and 1/2 days after my surgery and the day I was cleared, which was also the day my port was put in, I was back in the gym.  I went to the gym 5 days a week through chemo and did not get sick, or drop my counts.  Research does not demonstrate any benefit for exercise in OVCA survival, but maintaining normal weight does.  Stay exercising, you will feel better.  My GYN-Onc. approves.

[scoutshadow]

Exercise is good for everybody.  You are unlucky.  It's just a coincidence.  Think of all the women who exercise in your gym.

However, I would suggest like the post above that you wind down with gentler exercise (I would say this regardless of your prognosis).  Some yoga is bad for women so tread carefully.  Just make sure the build up and let down is gentle.

Don't stop exercising - it's good for you.

[Best59]

Exercise is good for everybody, I agree... But, I'm not an over-exercise fan! If you go to the gym, you can see, sometimes too much. I love to exercise too, but after surg., and after ov you have to do different!

[Best59]

I know, running or jumping for the women's body is very bad. You are shaking everything inside. The best for the women is a swimming and the yoga! Also, do not overwork yourself, just to the point, you feel pretty good!

[cirella]

Hi, did you post that on the MD site?  I would say do light exercise and cardio b/c it's better for your lungs/body with the anesthesia.