Labor Day Run: One Season Ending, One Beginning

One Season Ending, One Beginning

In February I said I'm looking at my cancer as a season -- lasting from Valentines Day to Labor Day. Here I am on Labor Day. I'm so relieved to be here. I'm grateful beyond words.

Where am I now in terms of the 'treatments for breast cancer?' Mastectomy, Chemo and Recovery ended-- now 10 weeks post experience on this particular day which also coincides with my first weekend of Tamoxifen. I still have one more surgery left which I'm saving up for (I currently have the spacer in place behind my pectoralis which was done at the mastectomy. At this surgery, two doctors worked in tandem -- while one removed, one cut behind the pectoralis to insert these balloon-like structures that were later gradually filled with saline solution with needle injections on ten day increments to stretch the muscle so that I could eventually have a place to later insert a breast implant. You continue this process of injections until you're the size you want. I've been done with the size part for a while. Not comfortable but could be worse. Looking forward to the replacement). 

I was told that this next stage of cancer treatment -- Tamoxifen -- has possible side effects. I decided that a nice balance of rest and "endorphin flood" via running and racing will help me fight off side-effects of Tamoxifen. In fact, I'm even taking it a step further by deciding to run cross country this year for the extra 'high' I get from racing to counter any 'low' from medication.

Here are some examples of how running or exercise that produces endorphins can help:

1. Estrogen likes fat cells; estrogen hungry tumors thrive on fat cells. Running helps keep one lean and therefore fewer fat cells that tumors would thrive on.

2. Estrogen supression causes one to have the blues or be moody; running produces endorphins which counteract the low estrogen.

3. Estrogen supression causes increased cravings for things like salt, sugar, refined items; running curbs the appetite and makes me make better choices.

4. Chemotherapy produces bone loss; impact sports like running help produce more red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the bone marrow.

I'm banking on running. It's my labor of love -- such a perfect pair for me on this Labor Day. So far, I'm off to a good start!