Cycling UK Forum

Hi

I have a bowel cancer secondary in my left lung. Because of the position it means the whole lung will need to be removed. The consultant couldn't comment on how it would affect my cycling - he was pretty dismissive of a triathlete I mentioned who was still competing with one lung. But I'm no triathlete - nor athlete for that matter. Just an ordinary bike rider.

Anyone been through this and still riding?

thanks

ian

Sorry to hear of your illness,hope you make a full recovery.
Regarding the bike if someone can do triathalons with one lung then I'm sure you'll manage to ride with one lung after a period of adjustment.

BTW I wouldn't want to enter a triathalon and I have two lungs

i too am also sorry to hear bout your illness(sure you'll make a great recovery), was ill end of 08 and my wife was told i'd be at best a vegetable! im happy to say im currently training for lejog(tho im still dreading it lol) after coming out of illness with only mild epilepsy and a dirty great titanium plate instead of front of head
All i can suggest is maybe try to email the athlete and ask for advice as he's you hero etc

Get well soon, I'm sure you'll recover.

I have asthma and it sometimes feels - especially in the winter - that I have only one lung, and a small one at that! It doesn't stop me doing anything. I'm a plodder, not a sprinter, and I can plod all day.

As I've said, get well soon.

Best regards,
Mick.

Also my best wishes for a full recovery.

Many medical staff are not necessarily very active and have little insight to the world of cycling. We rarely use the full capacity of one lung unless we are breathing very hard with some extreme physical effort. I would surmise that your one lung will be able to compensate for loss of the other and you will be able to continue. Training and re-building your physical fitness after treatment will include re-training your body to adapt to the one lung.
Are there any support groups. Is there anyway, via the triathlon society, to contact the triathlete or see if he/she has put out any info on how they did it.

Best wishes.

The reason we have two of things - lungs, kidneys, etc is so that if one packs up, we still have another one. You'll take time to adjust and recover, but part of that will be the recovery anyone would go through after major surgery. Take your time, don't expect too much of yourself too soon, and you'll be cycling around again in time, with just the one lung - and probably still faster than me.

thanks folks - much appreciated.

ian

Hi Ian

Not long after I appeared in the world my Mother developed TB and had a lung removed, both her and my Dad were keen cyclists in their youth. Whilst she didn't return to cycling, there is nothing to suggest she couldn't, she did live a good life. We would go walking in the peak district etc, and she did lead an active life. I would second what Kirst says take your time.

here's hoping for a speedy recovery

Malc

After I had my heart attack, the consultant advised I tried gentle walking for exercise. I asked about cycling and she said "no we don't recommend it. What if you get a few miles from home and can't get back?" I took no notice and a couple of years later did my first 100K Audax. I went for a "stress" heart test last year and the consultant said my heart would do "whatever I wanted it to do for me." I also have asthma and this has been much better since I took up cycling again! Go for it your body will tell you what you can do - not your doctor. Get well soon. I'm convinced positive attitude and healthy exercise will work better than drugs and well meaning medics.
Mike (married to a medic!)

Sorry to hear about your problems, but I can perhaps offer some advice from experience. My brother had renal failure and this developed making him less mobile.

He however cycled as his condition worsened, we eventually got him an electric bike which gave him a much longer lease of mobility and he used this until a week before he died.

The points I would raise....

1. Do what you are happy with. Don't do a triathlon straight away, but if you want to cycle round the block or take the shops into the next days ride then do so.

2. You will adapt, most people do and as you gain fitness and stamina things will get easier.

3. Don't be afraid of technology. Electric bikes include many that assist the riders power and the amount of power provided can be controlled. This allows you to contribute as much as you want, but then support you as you feel tired.

The amount of oxygen you can take up isn't just influenced by lung capacity. It depends just as much on how good your lungs are at transferring oxygen to the blood and how good your heart and circulatory system are, plus a whole load of genetic factors. You can have massive lung capacity and a fairly dismal VO2(max). Also, the other lung will strengthen and grow to take up the load.

MikewsMITH2 wrote:After I had my heart attack, the consultant advised I tried gentle walking for exercise. I asked about cycling and she said "no we don't recommend it. What if you get a few miles from home and can't get back?"

That's brilliant and typical of the unintiated, what if you had taken the car to a fave walking spot for your "gentle walk" and could not get back, surely tis the same principle?
We can all do things in life that might mean we are taken ill away from home!

Frank Smythe had only one lung and got to 27000 ft or so on Everest in the 1930s.

My heart specialist encouraged me to get back on my bike after my heart attack. I'm still going strong 10 years later. This might not appear relevant to the OP but the point is that lungs and heart combined get oxygen to all the bits that need it, so I and Mike Smith and Ians have/will have a loss of efficiency but are not total invalids. Ian, hope you make a good recovery and are back on the bike soon. Is there some kind of forum/support group on the net for those having/having had the same op as you.

All the best
Richard

My advise is follow what has your doctor said. He/she only knows what is better for you. Just walk gently and do not force yourself to do the heavy works. As of now, walking is the best exercise for you.