Radiotherapy and squash / keep fit

User

Posted 31 Mar 2025 at 12:39

I begin my 20 sessions of rt in about a month. I play squash ( despite being 72 ) and walk about 4 miles most days to keep fit. I wondered how the rt affected people - I really feel the need to continue playing about 4 or 5 games of squash a week , and to keep walking , while being treated - am I likely to be able , or capable , of doing that ?

User

Posted 31 Mar 2025 at 18:41

It affects everyone differently, many men seem to get fatigue but I didn’t. You might need to cut back your exercise regime a bit, but as long as there’s a toilet nearby I can see any reason for not playing squash and walking.

User

Posted 31 Mar 2025 at 18:55

I agree. I had 32 sessions of RT and got pretty fatigued at times (on Zoladex/Enzalutimide/Abiraterone also), I always tried to keep up with exercise, as much as I could, which I think is advised anyway. Drawbacks as mentioned are the toilet issues. The fact I was having RT didnt stop me, only the effects.
Peter

User

Posted 31 Mar 2025 at 22:09

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise! So important, not so much for RT, but definitely for HT. And wouldn’t stop during RT, I think that as my downfall, easing off during it. Just do as much as you can😊

User

Posted 01 Apr 2025 at 21:41

Sscrabble, all you can do is listen to your own body. I cycled to my radiotherapy sessions for the first three weeks, but recognised that it had become an unreasonable demand on my body after that. I remained too physically shattered for much activity for a couple of weeks after the last session, but then built up again and was hillwalking a month after the last session.

Squash is a particularly intense - and enjoyable - form of exercise (I regret I let it lapse after moving away from the courts I used to use) so you should probably be a little cautious about returning to full activity too quick. But it would be reasonable to keep it going at levels your body is happy with, aiming to return to higher intensity pretty quickly afterwards.

From my experience I see no problem with 4 miles walking (so not as high intensity unless with steep gradients) throughout treatment. You are likely to find yourself wanting more sleep than usual though!

User

Posted 02 Apr 2025 at 01:11

I was about your age when on Zoladex prior to RT. I was playing short tennis twice a week but doubles only so not so demarnding as squash. I continued with the short tennis but found I had to sit out more games. There were no short tennis facilities near where I had my RT and I don't think I would have been up to it anyway due to fatigue. However, I did force myself to do some long walks throughout the period of RT albeit at a slow pace and I feel that trying to keep as fit as you can is helpful. As has been said in this thread, some men are only slightly affected but others at the other end of the scale feel so fatigued that they are unable to do much. Unfortnately, you don't know until you are having the fractions of RT just how much you will be affected.

Barry

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