elaine

Hi all,

I'm 55 (OMG did I just admit to that!)and a breast cancer survivor of 11
years. I've joined a gym and have been working out faithfully for about 5
weeks. My question - and I hope it's not too stupid. I've been working
with weights and find the arm that I had the surgery on can get quite
painful at times (especially when I sleep). Would I be correct in thinking
that it's a result of this 'new' excercising of my arms.

I should add, I'm doing minimum weight 20 lbs arm resistance stuff, at
least 3 times a week (cut it back from about 5 times). Should I
continue ------- slowly and hope that I gain strength? Or shouldn't I be
doing it at all. Thanks.

E.

dorothy roper

It has been over 8 years since my surgery but I still have problems sleeping
on the right side. My arm starts hurting after a few minutes . I don't do
exercises with weights and I am careful not to lift anything too heavy with
right hand - I have always just assumed it was because of the surgery.

sandy l

Probably it is part of reconditioning. Are ou having any swelling in the
arm? That might herald lymphedema, although it is a little late for that to
start..

elaine

No swelling - I suspect my arm's just weak. I think it's probably good to
strengthen it, but just wanted to make sure..............Thanks.

mary fisher

That's exactly my experience - except that mine's coming up to seven years. Mary

eva

years.
-----------
I had a mastectomy less than 2 months ago and I have no problem sleeping on
the affected side. I do have numbness sometimes, and pain when I stretch,
but that's during the day.

As I understood it, you're *never* supposed to lift more than 10 lbs. with
the affected arm, for the rest of your life. Is that not true?

Eva

mary fisher

I had a lumpectomy ...


No-one told me that. Or if they did I didn't hear. Or forgot.

I couldn't live a normal life by never lifting more than 10lbs, I reckon I
do it one way and another every day. It's nothing! Ten bags of sugar ...

I remember being advised not to carry weights with that arm, especially with
the arm straight. I try not to do that - when I remember ... Mary

elaine

Why?
E.

mary fisher

It's supposed to be a possible trigger for lympheodema.

I really think nobody knows ... give them time though, give them time. Mary

tim jackson

This is a disputed theory. We are talking about lymphedema risk. While
about 25% of patients who have lymph node surgery go on to get
lymphedema, no-one really knows what factors affect this, and so most
recommendations are based on unproven theory rather than experimental
fact.

Logically one would think that any sort of strain would increase lymph
pressure and increase the risk. On the other hand, regular exercise
would improve lymph drainage, and so reduce the pressure and the risk.

Some people have been experimenting with fairly heavy exercise regimes
for bc surgery patients, (Ann Thorsen will probably be along to say her
piece on this soon), with as far as I know, no evidence of any
deterioration. These people definitely lift more than 10lb.

--
Tim Jackson

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