Hi everyone!
I have a quick question: My husband, who is completing his last cycle of chemo, would like to play 9 holes of golf, on a cloudy day, before the whole stem cell transplant process begins next month.
We will discuss this with our oncologist, but he was wondering if anyone has played golf with bone lesions and while under treatment.
I realize that my husband needs to be extra careful on the links, and he'll quit if it gets to be too much, he just wants to have a bit of fun before he must abide by temporary restrictions after the transplant.
Thanks for your input!
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10 posts
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ByYourSide - Name: Susan
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
Have some fun! Golf is not a contact sport (supposedly 
)
I pushed the boundaries prior to my stem cell transplant and am glad that I did. I try to make this illness only part of me, not all of me.
Just be ready for a rest day the day after. I make that a movie day
)I pushed the boundaries prior to my stem cell transplant and am glad that I did. I try to make this illness only part of me, not all of me.
Just be ready for a rest day the day after. I make that a movie day
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SharonH
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
I am about to complete six (6) 4-week cycles of my induction chemo. I was cleared to play golf right from the beginning and managed to play a round of golf (couldn't walk due to the lack of endurance with all these drugs) about once a week till recently.
However, I understand that it all depends on the severity and spread of the bone lesions. My X-rays showed multiple bone lesions but apparently none were too big or deep (?). Nowhere did the lesions form a ring around the long arm or leg bones. I am sure your husband's oncologist will check all that before giving advice.
Best of luck and I hope he has a great round!
K_Shash
However, I understand that it all depends on the severity and spread of the bone lesions. My X-rays showed multiple bone lesions but apparently none were too big or deep (?). Nowhere did the lesions form a ring around the long arm or leg bones. I am sure your husband's oncologist will check all that before giving advice.
Best of luck and I hope he has a great round!
K_Shash
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K_Shash - Name: K_Shash
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
I was diagnosed three years ago with many lytic lesions in my spine . My oncologist strongly suggested that I no longer play golf. After following his advice (most of the time), but with my golfing buddies bugging me to start playing again, I decided to get an opinion from a neurosurgeon who specializes in the treatment of spinal disorders.
After studying my x-rays, MRI's, PET/CT scans, and my bone density report, he said there was no way I could hurt myself swinging a golf club. He said that lifting too much weight or falling were the activities that I should avoid. i think it was rude of him to suggest that I swing like an old man (I'm only 74) ; but my buddies are enjoying beating me again. I think they should be nicer to me; I keep reminding them that I have cancer and that they should give me more strokes.
GET OUT AND ENJOY LIFE,
Coach Hoke
After studying my x-rays, MRI's, PET/CT scans, and my bone density report, he said there was no way I could hurt myself swinging a golf club. He said that lifting too much weight or falling were the activities that I should avoid. i think it was rude of him to suggest that I swing like an old man (I'm only 74) ; but my buddies are enjoying beating me again. I think they should be nicer to me; I keep reminding them that I have cancer and that they should give me more strokes.
GET OUT AND ENJOY LIFE,
Coach Hoke
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coachhoke - Name: coachhoke
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Apri 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 71
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
If the bone lesions are in his spine and he has back pain, then I would not risk it right now. If, however, the lesions are elsewhere, then he is probably ok.
Tom Borkaw talked about that in his book. He had bad lesions in his spine that created fractures that required surgery. He still cannot play golf after a year of treatment and recovery.
The act of a golf swing twists the spine and places torque on it. So, if you have spinal lesions, you need to get it looked at, like Coach did, before you engage in that activity.
Tom Borkaw talked about that in his book. He had bad lesions in his spine that created fractures that required surgery. He still cannot play golf after a year of treatment and recovery.
The act of a golf swing twists the spine and places torque on it. So, if you have spinal lesions, you need to get it looked at, like Coach did, before you engage in that activity.
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
When I started my induction treatment (two years in a trial study with CRD), I was given all the warnings about not lifting too much weight, avoiding impact activities, etc. However, since the only symptom I was displaying was anemia (i.e., no bone involvement), my doctor agreed that I could continue cycling, weight lifting, etc. as long as I was careful. He did tell me to stop playing hockey though.
About a year later, half way through the study, I reached a complete response (CR) and they let me start playing hockey again. The following summer, I took up golf again (which I hadn't been playing for several years) figuring it wouldn't be an issue. When I happened to mention to the doctor that I had started golfing again, they were actually more concerned about that then the hockey because of all the twisting motions and forces on the body from a golf swing. Since I was in CR and no bone involvement, they again said OK, just be careful.
The main takeaway I got from this was the more bone involvement, the more the risk. When I hear about how easily some people have broken bones due to lesions and weakened bone structure, I would be careful about playing golf (or hockey, etc.)) if there is bone involvement unless there has been sufficient testing done to make sure there is minimum risk of injury.
About a year later, half way through the study, I reached a complete response (CR) and they let me start playing hockey again. The following summer, I took up golf again (which I hadn't been playing for several years) figuring it wouldn't be an issue. When I happened to mention to the doctor that I had started golfing again, they were actually more concerned about that then the hockey because of all the twisting motions and forces on the body from a golf swing. Since I was in CR and no bone involvement, they again said OK, just be careful.
The main takeaway I got from this was the more bone involvement, the more the risk. When I hear about how easily some people have broken bones due to lesions and weakened bone structure, I would be careful about playing golf (or hockey, etc.)) if there is bone involvement unless there has been sufficient testing done to make sure there is minimum risk of injury.
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Kevin J - Name: Kevin J
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
Play golf....I was diagnosed on 4-17-2012 and said my numbers were the highest they had seen...I was 68. told me I could not play golf anymore...started me on Velcade and dex..numbers came down to almost normal after about 6 months....never stopped playing golf...was shooting better than ever...and I still hit it pretty good...last Aug, almost couldn't finish a round...had MRI and was playing with several lower spinal fractures...started taking D3 2000 calcium supplements instead of radiation and all the other junk..like kypoplasy....well, I'm ready to go again and will play until I can't...I'm 71 mow and after a stint with Revlimid which gave me blood clots, I;m back on Velcade and holding steady but a little higher than I was ...waiting for the new T-Cell therapy which is the answer to a cure..all this other stuff is just a patch...I wouldn't recommend Revlimid to anyone..I take Velcade twice a week in the upper arms and have since I started...no side effects from it at all...just the gastro part is the only thing I get..about 2-3 days a week..Drs said I had this at least 3 yrs before I was diagnosed, so at that I'm going on my 7th yr and not letting it get me down...doing almost eveything I ever did...restoring my 1959 TBird myself and almost 75 % done..lots of work but rewarding to see ...I would play golf or anything else you want and can do..that is what kicks its butt..laying down and giving up is the worst thing to do...fight it with all you have and enjoy life....I sure am..have my bad days, but mostly gastic...hard on the guts..take a pro biotic, Florastor twice a day and watch my diet as good as can be..still have my wt...I am 5; 11" and weigh about 195 and active as I can be..good luck..but play golf...good exercise and good people...watch for the CART T Cell therapy by Novartis to get approved soon...also Daratumumab...they take your blood after doing a bone marrow biopsy to find out which proteins your type of multiple myeloma gives off , treat your blood with anti bodies and put it back..it seeks out the proteins and kills the cancer cells...Celegene and these companies are all out for profit and could care less about us or a cure...they do not want a cure....they want to keep poisoning us with chemo....the new therapies will put them out of business and they know it...it can be cured today if the greedy pharma would get out of it or do it right...it is a shame to put profits over life...but they do...Good luck..play golf..
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GolfingAce
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
I think that it really depends on the severity and extent of the lesions. I was diagnosed after breaking four ribs and blood work showing stage 3 myeloma. I had two broken ribs on each side with a huge amount of pain from twisting and lifting some heavy boxes up into our attic. I could only sleep in my recliner as I couldnt lie down in bed.
I did have a bone survey and bone Scan. It showed the lesions and also basically let me know that my golf game was going to be put on hold. I am shorter due to the damage to my spine. I would think that your oncologist and myeloma specialist should be the ones to give a green light to go play by looking at the scans.
I wouldn't want to chance injury and having your BMT delayed. At that point you would have to ask yourself was it worth one more round of golf.
My oncologist and family practitioner work together on my treatments and both said no golf due to my spine and lesion issues. I know how I swing with the driver and for the most part if I don't slow my swing down, I usually have a bad day.
Since I started having Zometa treatments and have had a complete response from treatment, I have started using the driving range and have played 9 holes once by myself. I decided to play alone because I know how competitive it gets playing with my friends. So that way I didn't push myself and could tell if I was having some issues.
My suggestion would be let the doctors decide.
Castaway
I did have a bone survey and bone Scan. It showed the lesions and also basically let me know that my golf game was going to be put on hold. I am shorter due to the damage to my spine. I would think that your oncologist and myeloma specialist should be the ones to give a green light to go play by looking at the scans.
I wouldn't want to chance injury and having your BMT delayed. At that point you would have to ask yourself was it worth one more round of golf.
My oncologist and family practitioner work together on my treatments and both said no golf due to my spine and lesion issues. I know how I swing with the driver and for the most part if I don't slow my swing down, I usually have a bad day.
Since I started having Zometa treatments and have had a complete response from treatment, I have started using the driving range and have played 9 holes once by myself. I decided to play alone because I know how competitive it gets playing with my friends. So that way I didn't push myself and could tell if I was having some issues.
My suggestion would be let the doctors decide.
Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
I wanted to thank everyone for their answers and to let you know that my husband did in fact golf 9 holes. The day was overcast and he and my brother had a late day tee off time. They both have some physical restrictions so it was more about having a good time rather than a good game.
We did not ask "permission" from the oncologist; my husband really didn't want to get a "no" to golf to add to the list of "cannot do" at this time. He promised to be careful and honestly, to see him happy and looking forward to something he enjoyed before was what he needed.
Sometimes you need the break from the reality of what you live with every day, for a few hours forget you are a cancer patient and just enjoy that time. He will be going to ASCT in a month and we are planning to get away for a few days now to just be "us" before the hard stuff begins. WE need this; being a caregiver can be demanding on its own. We will forge on with a positive attitude, we just needed a little time to refuel!
Good luck to all who are living with myeloma!
We did not ask "permission" from the oncologist; my husband really didn't want to get a "no" to golf to add to the list of "cannot do" at this time. He promised to be careful and honestly, to see him happy and looking forward to something he enjoyed before was what he needed.
Sometimes you need the break from the reality of what you live with every day, for a few hours forget you are a cancer patient and just enjoy that time. He will be going to ASCT in a month and we are planning to get away for a few days now to just be "us" before the hard stuff begins. WE need this; being a caregiver can be demanding on its own. We will forge on with a positive attitude, we just needed a little time to refuel!
Good luck to all who are living with myeloma!
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ByYourSide - Name: Susan
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Golfing with multiple myeloma
Hi,
I was diagnosed in June 2007 at age 62, had tandem stem cell transplants and have been on Velcade/Dex since 2008. One of the constants during that period and now is golf, playing the game and writing about it.
For me, golf is a very relaxing sport. During the 3-4 hours of play, I think only about golf, not multiple myeloma, test results, etc. Getting out on the course and enjoying what nature has brought us as well as interacting with my friends in the foursome are priceless moments.
I encourage all who physically can do so to get some golf clubs and hit the links. It is a game you can play regardless of your age.
Thanks,
Larry Gaito
I was diagnosed in June 2007 at age 62, had tandem stem cell transplants and have been on Velcade/Dex since 2008. One of the constants during that period and now is golf, playing the game and writing about it.
For me, golf is a very relaxing sport. During the 3-4 hours of play, I think only about golf, not multiple myeloma, test results, etc. Getting out on the course and enjoying what nature has brought us as well as interacting with my friends in the foursome are priceless moments.
I encourage all who physically can do so to get some golf clubs and hit the links. It is a game you can play regardless of your age.
Thanks,
Larry Gaito
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LarryGaito - Name: Larry Gaito
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 62
10 posts
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