Hi Sarah,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I am so sorry to hear about your Mum's diagnosis. Is your Mum well enough to do some gentle exercises? If so, I would think that it is well worthwhile. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and am curently investigating a third. I had both knees replaced recently too.

I have been extremely fatigued since my initial diagnosis 7 years ago and wasn't well enough to do any exercise to start with. However, I found that all of my joints seized up as a side-effect of the cancer treatment, I developed Diabetes and then small fibre neuropathy in my legs, before I had both knees replaced. At this stage, I realised that I would have to try and rehabilitate myself if I was ever to get around independently again.

I started doing gentle exercises at home, then I invested in a machine which boosts the circulation. This cost about £200, but was well worth the money and I still use this daily. When I was a little more mobile, I joined a strength and balance class, specifically for people with health problems. After 3 months at this I was ready to move on to a more taxing class and I now attend 2 classes per week. I still have trouble with my joints and walk with a rollator, but I find that i am so much more mobile and can now manage stairs as well.

I don't know what age your mum is, but I don't see that some light exercise could do her any harm. The best thing to do might be to get the go ahead from her GP in the first place.

I hope that she does manage to do some exercise and that it helps her as much as it has helped me.

Please keep in touch and let us know how she gets on. We are always here for you, whenever you feel like talking.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx