Walking and cycling after skin cancer

[Paladina]

Having recently received the results of a biopsy confirming skin cancer in my lower leg, I’ve been searching the forum for appropriate advice on walking or cycling the camino after surgery. Although I’ve discovered several inspiring accounts of the determination of survivors of more radical surgery on other parts of their anatomy, and many cautionary tales about the need to apply sunscreen and a sombrero, I have yet to read any that address my specific condition. I'm not worried about surviving surgery, but I am exercised by the practicalities of walking or cycling the camino — I have not yet decided on mode or route — with potentially impaired mobility. The medical team can supply the prognosis, but they can’t predict my ability to cope with the camino. If you have been there and done that, I should appreciate some practical advice. With no family history of cancer and no predisposing personal factors, this is all new terrain for me.

 

[gloria lowe]

Having recently received the results of a biopsy confirming skin cancer in my lower leg, I’ve been searching the forum for appropriate advice on walking or cycling the camino after surgery. Although I’ve discovered several inspiring accounts of the determination of survivors of more radical surgery on other parts of their anatomy, and many cautionary tales about the need to apply sunscreen and a sombrero, I have yet to read any that address my specific condition. I'm not worried about surviving surgery, but I am exercised by the practicalities of walking or cycling the camino — I have not yet decided on mode or route — with potentially impaired mobility. The medical team can supply the prognosis, but they can’t predict my ability to cope with the camino. If you have been there and done that, I should appreciate some practical advice. With no family history of cancer and no predisposing personal factors, this is all new terrain for me.

What kind of cancer is it and what kind of surgery are they going to do? I also have skin cancer and malignant melanoma from skin cancer. Many different types of surgery. If you’re having a very invasive surgery it may take awhile to heal. I’ve had 8 Mohhs surgeries and I have an 8 inch scar on my arm to remove the melanoma. I visit my dermatologist every 3 months and each time they freeze off about 100 places and always seem to find something to biopsy. I grew up in California and have lived in Arizona for 50 years and was always outside. I decided long ago that my use by date would come before skin cancer was ever going to kill me. Skin cancer should not stop you from doing a Camino. It matters on your healing time and the type of surgery. Hat and sunscreen become your best friend. Buen Camino.

 

[Paladina]

What kind of cancer is it and what kind of surgery are they going to do? I also have skin cancer and malignant melanoma from skin cancer. Many different types of surgery. If you’re having a very invasive surgery it may take awhile to heal. I’ve had 8 Mohhs surgeries and I have an 8 inch scar on my arm to remove the melanoma. I visit my dermatologist every 3 months and each time they freeze off about 100 places and always seem to find something to biopsy. I grew up in California and have lived in Arizona for 50 years and was always outside. I decided long ago that my use by date would come before skin cancer was ever going to kill me. Skin cancer should not stop you from doing a Camino. It matters on your healing time and the type of surgery. Hat and sunscreen become your best friend. Buen Camino.

Many thanks for the helpful response, Gloria. It’s an SCC that has grown quite rapidly since I first noticed it earlier this year. The dermatologist currently recommends excision, but the plastic surgeon, whom I have yet to see, may have other ideas. I don’t know how long I shall have to wait for surgery, or how invasive it may be.

 

[gloria lowe]

Many thanks for the helpful response, Gloria. It’s an SCC that has grown quite rapidly since I first noticed it earlier this year. The dermatologist currently recommends excision, but the plastic surgeon, whom I have yet to see, may have other ideas. I don’t know how long I shall have to wait for surgery, or how invasive it may be.

I have had a least 8 of those and unless it is really big and needs extensive surgery you might find you’re back in action immediately. I’m attaching a picture of my last Mohs surgery and plastic surgery on my nose. I bruise very easily and there really was no pain after it just looked like I lost a fight. And it didn’t keep me down, put on a hat and was out the next day. Keep me posted. Just remember sunscreen is now your best new friend and not the cheap kind. Have the dermatologist tell you what needs to be in it. You’ll love the Camino and I’m old and very slow.

 

[Paladina]

I’m attaching a picture of my last Mohs surgery and plastic surgery on my nose. I bruise very easily and there really was no pain after it just looked like I lost a fight.

Not so much lost a fight as gained some high ground — maybe doing a faceplant on O Cebreiro? Either way, I hope you’ve healed well. Thanks again for your support. I’ll send you a pm when I have some news.

 

[JimM]

Having recently received the results of a biopsy confirming skin cancer in my lower leg, I’ve been searching the forum for appropriate advice on walking or cycling the camino after surgery. Although I’ve discovered several inspiring accounts of the determination of survivors of more radical surgery on other parts of their anatomy, and many cautionary tales about the need to apply sunscreen and a sombrero, I have yet to read any that address my specific condition. I'm not worried about surviving surgery, but I am exercised by the practicalities of walking or cycling the camino — I have not yet decided on mode or route — with potentially impaired mobility. The medical team can supply the prognosis, but they can’t predict my ability to cope with the camino. If you have been there and done that, I should appreciate some practical advice. With no family history of cancer and no predisposing personal factors, this is all new terrain for me.

I have had several squamous cell carcinomas on various parts of my body including one on my left calf with Mohs surgery performed on all. I have had melanoma twice. One was on my rib and the other on top of my head. Both serious surgeries, but recovery was fast. I have walked 7 Caminos in the past 9 years and the skin cancer and surgeries have not hindered me a bit. I walked only once in July and the sun and heat were brutal. My other Caminos were in September and/or October. I wear a big hat and cover my neck and the side of my face. I wear long sleeve shirts and hiking pants. Of course, sun screen. I'm looking forward to Camino #8 next year. Skin cancer won't cause major ill effects as long as it is addressed early on. Buen Camino!

 

[Paladina]

I have had several squamous cell carcinomas on various parts of my body including one on my left calf with Mohs surgery performed on all. I have had melanoma twice. One was on my rib and the other on top of my head. Both serious surgeries, but recovery was fast. I have walked 7 Caminos in the past 9 years and the skin cancer and surgeries have not hindered me a bit. I walked only once in July and the sun and heat were brutal. My other Caminos were in September and/or October. I wear a big hat and cover my neck and the side of my face. I wear long sleeve shirts and hiking pants. Of course, sun screen. I'm looking forward to Camino #8 next year. Skin cancer won't cause major ill effects as long as it is addressed early on. Buen Camino!

Thank you for the reassurance and sound advice. While waiting my turn for surgery I can pass the time by researching which route I'd most like to follow on my next camino. I wish you a happy and healthy 8th camino and many more to come.

 

[DyanTX]

Many thanks for the helpful response, Gloria. It’s an SCC that has grown quite rapidly since I first noticed it earlier this year. The dermatologist currently recommends excision, but the plastic surgeon, whom I have yet to see, may have other ideas. I don’t know how long I shall have to wait for surgery, or how invasive it may be.

I have had 5 basal cell surgeries, including 2 Mohs procedures on forehead and ankle and one SCC on my calf. As you said, the SCC grew quite rapidly and was actually the only painful skin cancer I have had. It came up after a backpacking trip so I initially thought it was a thorn or splinter. Anyway, the SCC was removed by the same doc that did my Mohs but he didn't use the Mohs, he just excised a large area to completely remove the lesion. While I had always thought SCC was almost as bad as melanoma, he said "No" they don't spread and complete removal is curative. After 2 weeks of healing and stitch removal, I was back out in the wilderness - with an elastic wrap to continue the healing and maintain cleanliness. I do have checks every 6 months and have had other lesions frozen or chemically treated. I believe that the damage was done in my teens - 30's living in the south and before sunscreen became popular and is just now coming to the surface- so to speak. Sunscreen and a hat are your friends. You should be able to go back to normal activity after healing. How long will depend on the amount of tissue is taken.

 

[Paladina]

I have had 5 basal cell surgeries, including 2 Mohs procedures on forehead and ankle and one SCC on my calf. As you said, the SCC grew quite rapidly and was actually the only painful skin cancer I have had. It came up after a backpacking trip so I initially thought it was a thorn or splinter. Anyway, the SCC was removed by the same doc that did my Mohs but he didn't use the Mohs, he just excised a large area to completely remove the lesion. While I had always thought SCC was almost as bad as melanoma, he said "No" they don't spread and complete removal is curative. After 2 weeks of healing and stitch removal, I was back out in the wilderness - with an elastic wrap to continue the healing and maintain cleanliness. I do have checks every 6 months and have had other lesions frozen or chemically treated. I believe that the damage was done in my teens - 30's living in the south and before sunscreen became popular and is just now coming to the surface- so to speak. Sunscreen and a hat are your friends. You should be able to go back to normal activity after healing. How long will depend on the amount of tissue is taken.

Thank you, Dyan -- this is really helpful and heartening. I'd also attributed the strange growth to one of many minor incidents out in the wild, and was astonished by the diagnosis as I've never been a sunbather and have always used sunscreen.

 

[Andpartner]

I had a Melanoma in situ removed from the back of my upper arm, just below where ladies tee shirt sleeves end (they are always shorter than men’s sleeves) where it is difficult to put sunscreen. I found it an upsetting experience, more mentally than physically. The excision was more extensive than I expected from the size of the spot, and then had to have the scar re-excised (this was the protocol.) it healed well and because they did not need to go into the fascia or muscle it has not affected how my arm moves.
For you, i think the issue will be, where on your leg is it? If it is your shin, healing will probably be slower than on the back of your calf, which should heal better. Hopefully the fascia and muscle will not be involved either which should not affect your mobility too much after the skin has healed.
As others have said you will need to join the ‘coverup’ gang. Hat, long sleeves, long trousers and good sunscreen. There are plenty of us about.
Wishing you all the best.

 

[Richard Smith]

I have had one melanoma on calf, many SCCs and BCCs on arms/back/chest/face. They heal after removal and don't stop you hiking afterwards.
Wear a hat and use sunscreen is the advice, although the European sun is much weaker than in Australia IMO and I didn't use sunscreen in Spain. The hat I wore on CF was disreputable before I started, the one in my pic is a nice cork hat I bought in Portugal afterwards.

 

[Paladina]

[QUOTE="Andpartner, post: 953932, For you, i think the issue will be, where on your leg is it? If it is your shin, healing will probably be slower than on the back of your calf, which should heal better. Hopefully the fascia and muscle will not be involved either which should not affect your mobility too much after the skin has healed. As others have said you will need to join the ‘coverup’ gang. Hat, long sleeves, long trousers and good sunscreen. There are plenty of us about. Wishing you all the best. /QUOTE]

Thank you for your considered and considerate response. I am glad that you have not lost any movement in your affected arm. Even though I have yet to undergo surgery, I can well understand why the experience may have provoked more mental than physical distress. I’m still processing my response to the unexpected diagnosis. In my case, the SCC is on the outer side of my lower leg, closer to the calf muscle than the shin, for which relief, I suppose, I should be offering much thanks.

 

[Paladina]

I have had one melanoma on calf, many SCCs and BCCs on arms/back/chest/face. They heal after removal and don't stop you hiking afterwards.
Wear a hat and use sunscreen is the advice, although the European sun is much weaker than in Australia IMO and I didn't use sunscreen in Spain. The hat I wore on CF was disreputable before I started, the one in my pic is a nice cork hat I bought in Portugal afterwards.

Thank you for giving me the benefit of your experience. You may be as surprised as I was to discover that skin cancer is the commonest form of the disease in Ireland, a country not known for the radiance of its climate. It seems that we persistently underestimate the effect of ultraviolet rays. I do, in fact, keep my head covered by a helmet when cycling and a hat when walking, although not nearly as nice as the one you are wearing in your photo. Sadly, they seem not to make them in small sizes.

 

[Richard Smith]

Thank you for giving me the benefit of your experience. You may be as surprised as I was to discover that skin cancer is the commonest form of the disease in Ireland, a country not known for the radiance of its climate. It seems that we persistently underestimate the effect of ultraviolet rays. I do, in fact, keep my head covered by a helmet when cycling and a hat when walking, although not nearly as nice as the one you are wearing in your photo. Sadly, they seem not to make them in small sizes.

Paladina,
My first diagnosis was a real shock - I was in my late 20s at the time and melanoma is no joke.
After two ops, I had a 5 inch scar and my calf muscle looked like a pagoda. Exercise rounded out the calf muscle, I did lots of roller blading after recovery (3 months? I can't remember) and you couldn't tell the difference between the two legs after a year or so. After the 12 month follow-up check the surgeon assured my worried wife that I would die of something else.
Now at 65 I can barely see the scar at all. Apart from a slight numb section for a few years and a tendency for that ankle to swell up a little if I wear tight sox, it has never affected me or stopped me from doing anything I wanted.
I see from another response that you are still processing your diagnosis and I feel for you. I had a very bleak night before my own op. But if I could give you one thing it would be that there is a path through this and the other side is very good.
Richard

 

[Paladina]

I see from another response that you are still processing your diagnosis and I feel for you. I had a very bleak night before my own op. But if I could give you one thing it would be that there is a path through this and the other side is very good.

I’m feeling much more optimistic about my prospects since reading the responses to the original post. If all of you have emerged from more extensive surgery without significant loss of mobility, I have no reason to fear a worse outcome. Thank you for pointing out the path; I look forward to following it all the way to Santiago and beyond.

 

[Paladina]

The excision and skin graft are scheduled for Oct 4. Thanks to all of you who gave me the benefit of your advice, experience and support.

 

[Paladina]

The excision and skin graft are scheduled for Oct 4. Thanks to all of you who gave me the benefit of your advice, experience and support.

Just a brief post-operative update. The wound healed quite well after surgery, and a CT scan found no evidence of tumours elsewhere, which is hardly surprising as the most recent pathology report indicates that the supposed tumour was more likely a benign keratoacanthoma. I'm walking and cycling much as before albeit not in Spain.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Having recently received the results of a biopsy confirming skin cancer in my lower leg,….

I don’t know if my comments will be helpful, but I have also been giving much thought to this problem, having had several skin cancers surgically removed in the last few years, though nothing on the scale of your report. Having cycled numerous caminos, all in June, I have obviously been severely exposed to the summer Spanish sun. But my carcinomas have all been on my face, two on the forehead, one on the side of my nose and one behind the ear. These areas have always been well protected because I wear a flapped and peaked “fishing-style” hat under my cycle helmet. The most serious sun exposure has always been to my thighs between knees and cycle shorts, which despite liberal sunscreen application always suffer. Also my forearms. Despite this I have experienced no incidence of cancers in these areas. I have the impression from my doctor that this is not the point - the skin is a discrete organ, and over-exposure to one area can cause cancer incidence in another. He also pointed out that since I have been living in sub-tropical Australia for the last 40 years that is much more likely to have caused my recent problems than any bike ride in sunny Spain.

 

[Paladina]

I don’t know if my comments will be helpful, but I have also been giving much thought to this problem, having had several skin cancers surgically removed in the last few years, though nothing on the scale of your report. Having cycled numerous caminos, all in June, I have obviously been severely exposed to the summer Spanish sun. But my carcinomas have all been on my face, two on the forehead, one on the side of my nose and one behind the ear. These areas have always been well protected because I wear a flapped and peaked “fishing-style” hat under my cycle helmet. The most serious sun exposure has always been to my thighs between knees and cycle shorts, which despite liberal sunscreen application always suffer. Also my forearms. Despite this I have experienced no incidence of cancers in these areas. I have the impression from my doctor that this is not the point - the skin is a discrete organ, and over-exposure to one area can cause cancer incidence in another. He also pointed out that since I have been living in sub-tropical Australia for the last 40 years that is much more likely to have caused my recent problems than any bike ride in sunny Spain.

Thank you, @Peregrinopaul, your comments are indeed helpful. I was also surprised by the original diagnosis, both because I have no predisposing factors for developing cancer and because of the sun-protected site of the alleged tumour.

It may interest you as a fellow cyclist to hear that the only abnormalities detected by the CT scan were spinal damage, doubtless age-related, and an old pelvic fracture, which was news to me. The fracture may well have occurred when falling on black ice - a common winter hazard in rural Ireland, though not in springtime in Spain - but I'm still surprised that I could have continued to walk and cycle in blissful ignorance of the injury.

 

[Josuentag]

Despite all the benefits of physical education, you should not go to extremes and immediately run a marathon. All exercises should be introduced gradually, especially if physical activity has not been practiced. Consultations with the attending physician and, possibly, with a physiotherapist are mandatory; it is also important to carefully monitor the body's reaction. The exercise should be stopped in case of discomfort and even more pain. It may sound funny, but I have had a similar experience after uplift facelift naples. The skin is an elastic organ, but you must be careful with physical exertion despite this.

 

[Former member 92300]

For your skin -

There are plenty of sun protection options on the market now. I wear a wide brimmed hat that instead of a brim on the back - has a thin fabric that drapes down covering my neck (kind of like a combination of a baseball cap and legionnaire's hat only prettier. The fabric can even be snapped in a way to cover much of your face if you want. This is the one I use most. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GYIIEMM/?tag=casaivar02-20

You can have sun protective gaiter/buff cover your neck. (In case you don't know what a buff is - here is an example https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXGRQNL/?tag=casaivar02-20 )

You can wear long sleeve sun shirts and sun pants cover your arms/legs/body. And shoes with socks cover your feet. Chose clothes that are SPF 50 if you want to be sure it has good UV coverage - but there are lots of shirts and pants that will do the trick.

Then all that is left is your hands in which you can wear sun gloves. This is a pair I have worn that are fingerless - but you can get them with the complete fingers too. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M8GG5NV/?tag=casaivar02-20

Great thing about the Frances is the sun is mostly behind you as you walk if you walk in earlier hours of the day.

And then of course - there is sunscreen but I hate wearing it. I don't always cover up head to toe - but I definitely wear sunscreen and/or protective clothing as needed. Unfortunately - it seems the sunscreen is more expensive when I buy in Europe - or maybe it is just the places where I am buying it. I still only bring a travel plane size bottle and then buy more there if walking the Camino. If traveling in general and checking luggage - I would bring a bigger bottle from home.

As for the physical limitations - consult your doctor and start an exercise plan with their guidance to build up your distance and endurance.

Edited to say - oops! Didn't realize someone revived a year old post/thread!