Terry,
I really appreciate your posting information about this area of research, and I also appreciate the many comments and experiences everyone has shared related to the study.
I wasn't aware of this area of research and, even though the findings may not be applicable to many myeloma patients, they are useful for helping all of us think more about what things may impact our immune systems. That's good, given the immune system's importance both in keeping myeloma under control AND in keeping infections at bay.
Forums
Re: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
Certainly exercise helps the immune system, it is over exercise that cand become detrimental.
On the biking thread, I posted what my exercise burden is on a weekly basis. That burden level has served me well in my recovery from open heart surgery done a year ago. I had valve replacement surgery in Aug of 2014. Because I was so fit, my surgeon and cardiologist both indicated that I was way above the curve for my age insofar as recovery. In fact I did better than 95% of all patients irrespective of age because of my pre-operative fitness level. That was in spite of being a cancer patient.
In so far as exercise is concerned, a balance is always called for. Each individual has his or her own balance. With me, cycling 150 miles week with 3 days of rest is the right balance. More may not be beneficial and may be detrimental. Determining a correct balance is impacted by other factors such as the burden of our multiple myeloma, the level of our treatment and side effects, our age and other non multiple myeloma related physical limitations.
Ron
On the biking thread, I posted what my exercise burden is on a weekly basis. That burden level has served me well in my recovery from open heart surgery done a year ago. I had valve replacement surgery in Aug of 2014. Because I was so fit, my surgeon and cardiologist both indicated that I was way above the curve for my age insofar as recovery. In fact I did better than 95% of all patients irrespective of age because of my pre-operative fitness level. That was in spite of being a cancer patient.
In so far as exercise is concerned, a balance is always called for. Each individual has his or her own balance. With me, cycling 150 miles week with 3 days of rest is the right balance. More may not be beneficial and may be detrimental. Determining a correct balance is impacted by other factors such as the burden of our multiple myeloma, the level of our treatment and side effects, our age and other non multiple myeloma related physical limitations.
Ron
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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: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
I can confirm the deleterious effect of too much exercise. About three times in the past several years I was skiing for a week at a time and taking maintenance dose of Revlimid. I only skied 3 or 4 hours a day on intermediate trails. This was followed by 5 days of travel seeing various attractions. Each time, when I got home, I had pneumonia and was hospitalized for treatment. My friend, an orthopedist, with whom I skied, suggested that I had overdone, and the last time I skied, I only did every-other-day. The Result: NO PNEUMONIA.
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John Y
Re: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
Hi John Y. Sounds like you have fun vacations! I am glad you found a way to cut back slightly on your schedule so you could keep enjoying ski vacations without being hospitalized after.
Cathy
Cathy
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
This is an interesting thread, but I'm not sure if this is the right place to post my question. Is running considered safe for a patient in complete remission and on maintenance? I have very minimal bone damage—only a couple of small lesions in the pelvic area. I walk regularly but am looking for more of a challenge. My doctor has not given me any limitations in regard to physical activity. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Re: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
Just came across this thread, very interesting and close to my heart. I have been an endurance athlete for over 20 years, 14 full ironman races, about three times that many half irons, and numerous ultra distance trail runs. I have been coaching triathletes for the past 7 or so years, which has become a great passion of mine. Basically, I thrive on this stuff! Was diagnosed with multiple myeloma about 9 months ago after fracturing a vertebra during an event. I have since finished radiation and 3.5 months of targeted chemo. I will be getting a stem cell transplant in about three weeks.
My oncologist always makes sure I am not training at extremes and seems to think I can return to running once my bone density increases, I continue to cycle, swim, and lift weights for one hour daily, except for those tired chemo days. In reality, I probably take 1-2 days off per week.
Though I am still a novice at this cancer thing, I believe it's all about moderation. I have totally changed my training regimen and mostly train by heart rate these days. Basically I am keeping things long and slow, and eliminating high intensity training. I try to keep my heart rate at 130 bpm or below. Also gone are the Saturday, 6-hour training sessions.
I honestly feel as though my years of hard training have prepared me for this battle and I fully intend to keep it up ... just at a lower intensity. I have already seen too many people with multiple myeloma turned down for stem cell transplant because they were not fit enough after years and years of a sedentary lifestyle to undergo the treatments.
Keep the Faith and Keep the Fight!
My oncologist always makes sure I am not training at extremes and seems to think I can return to running once my bone density increases, I continue to cycle, swim, and lift weights for one hour daily, except for those tired chemo days. In reality, I probably take 1-2 days off per week.
Though I am still a novice at this cancer thing, I believe it's all about moderation. I have totally changed my training regimen and mostly train by heart rate these days. Basically I am keeping things long and slow, and eliminating high intensity training. I try to keep my heart rate at 130 bpm or below. Also gone are the Saturday, 6-hour training sessions.
I honestly feel as though my years of hard training have prepared me for this battle and I fully intend to keep it up ... just at a lower intensity. I have already seen too many people with multiple myeloma turned down for stem cell transplant because they were not fit enough after years and years of a sedentary lifestyle to undergo the treatments.
Keep the Faith and Keep the Fight!
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Rcik
Re: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
Hi Rcik,
I am impressed with your triathlon performances!
Like you, I am sure that your general fitness level, brought about by your years of triathlon training, will serve you well during your myeloma treatment and especially during your stem cell transplant.
In addition to that, and maybe more importantly, the mental toughness that you have developed through your training will also benefit you as you deal with myeloma. As a long-time runner, knowing that I've gotten through tough workouts and races in the past, gave me confidence that I can make it through difficult treatment days and stem cell transplant days. Also the ability to think about things one day at a time, just like taking a marathon one mile at a time.
And I'm sure you'll be running again before long! I'm 3 years post-stem cell transplant and running as well as I have in over a decade. If I can do it, you can too.
Best wishes for a smooth and successful stem cell transplant. Please keep us posted on how it goes.
Mike
I am impressed with your triathlon performances!
Like you, I am sure that your general fitness level, brought about by your years of triathlon training, will serve you well during your myeloma treatment and especially during your stem cell transplant.
In addition to that, and maybe more importantly, the mental toughness that you have developed through your training will also benefit you as you deal with myeloma. As a long-time runner, knowing that I've gotten through tough workouts and races in the past, gave me confidence that I can make it through difficult treatment days and stem cell transplant days. Also the ability to think about things one day at a time, just like taking a marathon one mile at a time.
And I'm sure you'll be running again before long! I'm 3 years post-stem cell transplant and running as well as I have in over a decade. If I can do it, you can too.
Best wishes for a smooth and successful stem cell transplant. Please keep us posted on how it goes.
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Impact of intense exercise on the immune system
Hi Rcik and Ron.
Rcik, you sound like my son-in-law with your love of endurance sports.
I had an ASCT in Nov 2012 and I want to encourage you can get healthy and strong again. Here are some tips I have found:
1. Eat a clean ketogenic diet - with about 3 T coconut oil per day because fuel for cancer is glucose and glutamine (as in MSG)
2. Take 6 - 8 g curcumin with bioperine every day.
3. Eat "anticancer foods" - I make a smoothie every morning with coconut milk, frozen: brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, kale, chard, collards (usually have about 1/2 c of several of those - vary them) and I add fresh bok choy, wheat grass and other fresh veggies and 1 T ground flax seed, 1/2 tsp chia seed, 1 tsp black cumin seed,1 tsp cocoa nibs and a bit of stevia. I add a couple T finely chopped walnuts to that.
4. drink green tea - several cups per day. (Matcha and Gyokuro are especially good)
5. avoid toxins as much as possible.
6. exercise responsibly - like you mentioned. I walk 30 min per day and sometimes lift weights.
7. I am also currently taking Sea Cucumber.
I wish you well!
Cathy
Rcik, you sound like my son-in-law with your love of endurance sports.
I had an ASCT in Nov 2012 and I want to encourage you can get healthy and strong again. Here are some tips I have found:
1. Eat a clean ketogenic diet - with about 3 T coconut oil per day because fuel for cancer is glucose and glutamine (as in MSG)
2. Take 6 - 8 g curcumin with bioperine every day.
3. Eat "anticancer foods" - I make a smoothie every morning with coconut milk, frozen: brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, kale, chard, collards (usually have about 1/2 c of several of those - vary them) and I add fresh bok choy, wheat grass and other fresh veggies and 1 T ground flax seed, 1/2 tsp chia seed, 1 tsp black cumin seed,1 tsp cocoa nibs and a bit of stevia. I add a couple T finely chopped walnuts to that.
4. drink green tea - several cups per day. (Matcha and Gyokuro are especially good)
5. avoid toxins as much as possible.
6. exercise responsibly - like you mentioned. I walk 30 min per day and sometimes lift weights.
7. I am also currently taking Sea Cucumber.
I wish you well!
Cathy
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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