Any runners out there? Marathon training on Immunotherapy

I’m not a runner, but I am an avid cyclist. My melanoma was on my lower shin and because the healing process of both the initial removal and the following wle and skin graft didn’t go well, I lost a lot of fitness. Melanoma was found in my lymph, but nowhere else. I was offered immunotherapy, but I declined, which the oncologist agreed with. One reason for not going ahead with it was that I’d built up most of my fitness and didn’t want to lose it again, should immunotherapy not agree with me. I felt that I’d wasted most of the year due to the hole in my leg and I wanted to be able to get back to what I enjoyed doing. Obviously it would have been different if it had been found elsewhere.

LampY

Thanks for the reply. And thanks for sharing your experience. I am fortunate that I am already back running, so fitness hasn't dropped 'too much'. But I await the CT to see if the melanoma cells are only just on the lymph node or they are elsewhere. Find out later this week hopefully.

Hope you have good news

CT scan shows no evidence of metastatic disease!

I will just be referred to oncology for consideration of systemic treatment. 

That is good news!

Seems I am following a similar path to you. Wonder if my oncologist will have the same opinion as yours over immunotherapy?

It would be interesting to see if views differ between oncologists and health boards. I was told that immunotherapy wasn’t offered to a stage 3a a couple of years ago. We discussed the pros and cons, plus that of targeted treatment, should I have the BRAF mutation. It’s looking as though I will never know if I have the BRAF mutation. According to the hospital that carried out the testing, there was not enough DNA in the biopsy sample to test.

Hmmm interesting, I will keep you updated. I have been told that I have the BRAF mutation.

Hi, I'm a 55 year old runner and cyclist and have been on adjuvant Pembrolizuminab since January for stage 3C. I had a neck dissection last October which took a lot out if me, but the effects of the immunotherapy have been minimal. I've had a little fatigue but running really helps get through that. I'm running about 25 miles a week including a half distance some weeks and interval sessions, which is the same as before surgery and treatment. I've been doing parkruns and 10ks as wasn't fit after the operation in spring. I've got a half and marathon entered in the autumn, though a little unsure if I get fatigue the week of the marathon. Fatigue does seem to happen in the two weeks after treatment. I found this old discussion on the cycling trainerroad app which was helpful. www.trainerroad.com/.../47956

Hi, just wanted to say thank you for giving me some hope!

I had melanoma 6 years ago, and it has just recurred. Still waiting on the scan results, but immunotherapy is likely, as is more surgery.

In the intervening period I took up running, gradually building up to a marathon, and have done 3 marathons in the last 2 years.

It is so depressing watching my Garmin stats decline!! And Strava keeps helpfully pointing out that my activity levels are low compared to previous weeks….

I know that there is a lot of uncertainty as to what will happen next, but your messages have suggested it’s not out of the question. Now I just need to be patient!