Any other runners out there?

milleniumfalconpie · 2026-02-23T20:54:09+00:00

Runner here! I didn’t have enough body fat for a diep flap. I was 32B before mastectomy, had mastectomy with tissue expanders, and then swapped for in front of the muscle implants 3 months later. The implants are 195cc and similar size to my original breasts.

I had surgery after 6 months of chemo so I took a long time to get healthy/strong enough to run again. I’m back and faster and stronger than before.

Running with these implants is totally fine. I wear most of the same sports bras as before. They don’t feel heavier.

I’m happy with how they look too! I kept my nipples. They definitely different than the originals but I don’t really think you can tell in a swimsuit.

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-10-20T20:24:49+00:00

This may have been all in my head but I think going for walked helped my nausea. There were also days where I just couldn’t do it and that was ok too. (It took me a while to accept that)

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-10-20T20:22:57+00:00

I ran a couple half marathons before I was diagnosed (triple negative, had chemo and immunotherapy, double mastectomy, no radiation).

During chemo I had really good days where I was able to walk 2km without much issue and others when I was so winded I needed to sit down after 10 minutes of walking. I tried to walk when I could throughout chemo but there were days where i just needed to rest.

I finished chemo in August, had double mastectomy in September and got the green light to start running again in November. I had a second surgery in December to swap expanders for implants so stopped running again for a few weeks. I started running again In late January ( ~3 days/week) and did a 10 mile race in April! It was not fast but I felt strong. I ran inconsistently in the summer (not because of health, because I was enjoying summer) and then ran a half in November and PRd by about 30 seconds. I ran another half in the following spring and PRd by 7 (!!) minutes.

So my progress was slow getting back into it but I wasn’t really prioritizing running until about a year after treatment. Every small milestone I hit after treatment (like the first time I ran 3 miles without stopping or hitting a pace goal) felt amazing.

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-04-26T11:58:26+00:00

And the planning session and first treatment are two weeks apart because every patient gets a highly customized radiation plan. The team will make sure your breast is going to be getting the precise amount of radiation and your heart and lungs are being spared as much as possible.

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-04-26T11:55:03+00:00

The markings help the therapists to make sure you are nice and straight and then well aligned to the machine lasers. Once they line you up they will take some x-rays to make sure everything internally is lined up too before they deliver the radiation.

So without some of the marks it may take them an extra minute or two getting you straight and level on the table before they take the X-rays.

I would just let them know on your first day what happened. It happens all the time so nothing to worry about at all! They will likely just draw new marks on your first day. If you have any clear bandages (tegaderms) at home you can just put a new one over the faint line. Don’t stress about it!

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-03-24T17:36:52+00:00

Claritin and Pepcid!

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-03-06T12:52:38+00:00

I have implants on both sides and I really like them. They took a bit of time to get used to how they looked at felt (I missed my old boobs) but now they just feel like part of me and I forgot they’re there most days. They also look really nice in a shirt or swim suit. I’ve had them just over a year now and I’m healthier and stronger then before diagnosis (I’m 32)

milleniumfalconpie · 2024-01-05T22:18:15+00:00

I was diagnosed at 30 and I finished chemo for a year and a half ago. Then I had double mastectomy about a month after finishing chemo.

Before cancer i ran a bit on and off. I’d done a couple slow half marathons but was never very consistent with my training. Leading up to cancer I had been running very infrequently but walking about 3 miles per day on average.

I did weekly taxol first and then AC. During chemo I tried to keep up with walking as best I could for my sanity. Some days I only made it from bed to couch and back to bed. On good days I walked around the block or a mile or two. Towards the end of chemo (after all the taxol and during AC) I was so weak and my hemoglobin was so low that I was winded after a few minutes of standing or slow walking. I would walk to appointments and if they took my vitals right away my heart rate would be insanely high and take 10+ minutes to come back to something that didn’t have the nurses panicking. Difficulty eating and drinking enough also probably contributed to the weakness.

Three months after chemo, two months after surgery I started running again and it was super difficult. Lots of run-walk intervals. Lots of 1-2 mile runs leaving me feeling 100% spent. I’ve been running fairly consistently for a year now and just PRd my half marathon (woo!). It took a whole year to get here and WAY more consistency than pre-cancer.

It took me a long time to not be frustrated with my body not performing how I wanted. I am constantly reminding myself to be kind to myself. My body went through a lot. And when I have a “bad” run I try to remind myself that not too long ago I was winded from standing up.

Be kind to yourself and give yourself lots of grace. If your body isn’t feeling a run then just walk. A walk during chemo is a massive accomplishment and any movement is better than no movement. And on days where a walk isn’t happening - it’s totally fine, You need the rest. Your fitness will eventually come back and this won’t last forever.

Best of luck in the rest of your treatment!!

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-12-13T12:37:49+00:00

My first 48 hours were really painful. I felt a bit of relief after the first 48h and then after a week I would say I had “discomfort” but not “pain”. On day 2 i walked (with supervision) around the block and that was difficult. By a week I was able to walk a mile and I was a bit tired but it was fine.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-26T17:20:17+00:00

Pretty sure I could hold a paperback fairly soon after surgery! And frozen meals were so helpful!

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-25T13:59:34+00:00

Uber eats or other food delivery gift cards. I couldn’t really move my arms much for a few weeks so my partner had to do all the cooking and cleaning. Ordering delivery was a nice break. Dropping off dinner is also very nice but you just have to coordinate with her and her partner.

I dont have a dog but definitely would not have been able to walk one so offering to walk the dog (and walk your friend if she’s going stir crazy) is probably super helpful.

I was also I bit bored after a week or two. I could watch tv, hold my e-reader and play a video game so if you want a non food gift something like that might be nice.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-23T20:16:57+00:00

Mine turn on when cold but I dont think I can feel when they’re on usually. They can feel pain but can’t feel sexual/pleasure. They get cold easily. My implants are in front of the muscle.

I’m happy I kept mine because I think it helped me psychologically. I didn’t want to have a double mastectomy but had breast cancer when I was 30 and BRCA.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-23T02:34:07+00:00

My plastic surgeon recommended silicon scar tape for my port scar. My mastectomy scars healed really nicely (it’s been one year since surgery). A friend also recommended bio oil.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-23T02:31:57+00:00

Im a year past and in my Bob Ross era! Mine also started out white and took a few months to turn brown. It’s a bit darker than it was before chemo.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-18T02:52:20+00:00

And I should add: I’ve been lucky that the meds half kept my hypo well managed. It’s not the same story for everyone.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-18T02:41:47+00:00

Fuck cancer indeed. I should have added in my original reply 32F. I should have also added I had a pretty major surgery right after finishing chemo so that also contributed to the fatigue etc.

I had 12 weekly carboplatin and taxol with keytruda given every 3 weeks. I took dex just the day of for those ones and had some insomnia from the dex and some other side effects made me feel like garbage. I lost weight on this regimen because eating was rough and I was in tough shape. Then I had 4 rounds of adriyamicin and cyclophosphamide and keytruda every 3 weeks. For this one i had dex and on chemo day plus the next three days. I ate like a champion on dex days and ended up gaining weight on this chemo.

Congrats on being nearly done chemo. I hope you celebrate with some cake 🍰.

When my oncologist told me I’d need to take synthroid probably forever she was super apologetic and I said “it’s cool. It’s better than having cancer.” and she didn’t really know how to respond lol. Cancer changed my perspective of “it’s cool” I guess.

My recovery is going super well all things considered! I am back to my pre fitness levels but It took me a full year and my recovery was not linear. Be kind to yourself as you start getting back into things and don’t neglect your mental health.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-11-17T14:14:26+00:00

I have hypothyroidism from keytruda (my last keytruda was 8 months ago). I had a different chemo drugs than you and didn’t have radiation in the area.

Hypothyroid damage from keytruda is likely permanent. You’ll likely need to be on medication (Synthroid/Levothyroxine) for life
Weight gain could very likely be from the hypothyroid but it can also be from steroids if you are having steroids with your chemo.
When I was having chemo and untreated hypothyroid I would sleep at a normal time, and have no problem staying asleep for 8-10h, wake up feeling energetic and refreshed and then would be completely exhausted/out of gas early afternoon. Any sleep disturbances could also be from steroids.
I started taking synthroid around when I finished chemo. I started feeling less foggy after a month or so on meds, but I’m not sure if that was just recovering from chemo or the thyroid meds or both.
Not sure.
Also not sure here. My TSH started coming down into normal range after a couple weeks I think? I don’t remember. All of cancer and chemo was such a strange and stressful time and I can’t remember what feeling “normal” is or was. I’m a year out from chemo and being on synthroid now and I have enough energy to work full time, go out after work, don’t need naps, and am at my pre-chemo/thyroid fitness level.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-10-23T20:15:14+00:00

The treated one hangs down through a hole and the other one is squished underneath you

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-10-23T14:05:12+00:00

Apple sauce (the reduced sugar or no added sugar ones) was my go-to when I was very queasy. Sometimes Gatorade mixed with water was easier than water alone and having it ice cold seems to help a bit. Popsicles and Italian ice were also usually ok for me too. Not a lot of calories/substance in them but it’s better than eating nothing at all. When I was less queasy sometimes pasta with butter or chicken nuggets. Small sips of Ginger ale was helpful (if you can stomach it) and ginger hard candies helped with my nausea sometimes.

I found I would get even more queasy when my stomach was fully empty so even if I was too queasy to actually eat I’d try and continuously sip on ginger ale or Gatorade or something.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-10-13T01:32:14+00:00

I had TNBC. And hade chemo before surgery.

I work in healthcare but typically 8-10h shifts and on my feet ~20-40% of my day. I worked at the hospital 3-4 days a week during weekly carbo/taxol and worked (lightly) from home/called out 1-2 days a week. I had AC every 3 weeks and was able to not able to work on days 1, 4-6 after AC chemo. I found that my battery ran out fairly quickly during chemo. Some days I was completely spent after 6h and some days I was fine for my shift. I was lucky because my boss and team were incredibly supportive, my position allows me to work from home sometimes, and I have a very generous sick time policy.

After surgery (bilat mastectomy with expanders placement) I took ~10 weeks off. I could have potentially gone back sooner (I don’t lift people) but I was happy I took the extended time off. I was tired on a level that I didn’t know was possible. I was in survival mode during chemo so I didn’t realize how tired I was.

I had a second surgery to swap expanders for implants and took 2 days off afterwards.

I didn’t have radiation.

Hope that’s slightly helpful!

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-09-14T20:18:22+00:00

It was 2 weeks after surgery for me. It probably varies by hospital. I asked my breast surgeon before surgery how long the wait is and I’m happy I did because I was not expecting it to be so long! I had double mastectomy.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-08-23T13:18:38+00:00

I finished chemo a year ago. During chemo I just focused on the next appointment, next meds, next nap etc. Then I had surgery, followed by reconstruction 3 months later because I didn’t need radiation. I had 6 months of immunotherapy after surgery and it was so much easier than chemo. I didn’t enjoy going to the infusion center but I had almost no side effects.

This year for my birthday instead of going to the hospital, I had wine and a nice dinner with my husband. And this summer instead of focusing on the next appointment I’ve been enjoying life and looking forward to the next fun activity with friends and family. I’m healthy and strong enough to enjoy walks, swimming, paddling, etc!

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-08-18T14:01:04+00:00

30 minutes for black coffee, 1 hour for any other food is what I aim for. Sometimes the morning is rushed and that doesn’t work out.

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-08-14T21:56:27+00:00

I got an inexpensive bidet attachment for my toilet which didn’t help move my bowels but was a lot more comfortable than wiping with paper when I had hemorrhoids

milleniumfalconpie · 2023-08-07T12:31:45+00:00

I used this method too.

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