i used to run 3 miles, 5 days a week. I run outdoors, in a park close to home.
My biopsy was october 12. I haven't run since then. My beast still hurts, so i'm keep wearing a sports bra instead of regular bra.
When will I be able to run again? i read that it takes a month to full recover (for the breast tissue to heil) after a biopsy.
Will i be able to run after a lumpectomy?
Hello there !
For me, I joined a ZUMBA class 2 weeks Post-Op from a Double Mast with Breast Conservation and Reconstruction. Granted, I held my breasts alot and I couldn't bounce, of course, but that didn't stop me !
Sometimes, now, since my surgery on 3/30/09, I stop in the middle of my exercise/dance class (that I still take), and am amazed how far I've come and what my body is able to do again. BTW.. I just completed Radiation and continued with my ZUMBA class despite the fact that sometimes, I felt too tired to go - but off I went anyway and, of course, sat out a few times because I really couldn't always maintain that energy level !
In looking back over these last 9 months, My advice to You is ... Don't Run ... Walk !
But Walk none-the-less. You'll be glad that you gave yourself the opportunity to not give up what you love because other people said so. If I had listened to everyone back then... I'd still be on the couch playing victem.
Good Luck to you ~
yvonne
WOW! I really need to read this type of positive 'power through it' comment! I am a competitive runner who is facing a mastectomy and reconstruction in about 3 weeks. When I had my 1st biopsy, I felt a little tender, but was back to running after one day off. I had 4 additional biopsies last Thursday, and ran a 10K race on Saturday--I wore two very supportive jogbras, and when I set out, I felt a little tenderness, but I believe that the movement actually makes some types of pain feel better--especially in the case of tissue damage and repair. I am anxious about the upcoming surgery and reconstruction, and had a lot of questions for my plastic surgeon yesterday, when I 1st met with him. He explained the difference between using a TRAM (abdominal) flap versus a Latissimus Dorsi (back) flap in breast reconstruciton. I do not feel that implants are the way I want to go. I have been reading comments on this site, and appreciate the contributor's candor about procedures, and the sort of 'real life' anecdotes and information of what it means to endure these types of surgeries and live with cancer. If anyone has any comments about recovery and resuming an athletic lifestyle, I am particularly interested in reading your thoughts. Thank you.
Nancy, I don't feel surgery and a TRAM reconstruction hampered my active lifestyle - save for the shoulder issues I got from not doing PT after the mastectomy. BE SURE you get PT post-sorgery, as soon as you're able. I could pretty much exercise (though I don't compete in anything) within several weeks after surgery; you just want to make sure you wait long enough that the incision is fully healed, as well as the reconnected blood vessels. Really, surgery was the second easiest part of the whole process (after radiation); it's the chemo that was so disabling. I'm betting you'll do fine with this surgery - oh, and I didn't find any abdominal weakness form the TRAM, either; I got back into Pilates, and it really helped. Good luck - PJH
Hi, Thank you for your reply! I am very curious about the TRAM flap surgery and how to recover from having abdominal muscle and tissue rerouted to the breast reconstruction area. It is one thing to hear about the healing process from a surgeon, but it would probably be more realistic to hear about other women's experiences. My plastic surgeon has suggested the use of the latissimus dorsi muscle for reconstruction, but that leaves me worried and wondering about losing strength in my back (such as it is at either site, anyway--really can't afford to lose more!!). Anyway, today on my own, I researched and learned about DIEP flap reconstruction, which reads as if it is a less invasive way to 'harvest' tissue from the patient for the reconstructive tissue. I want to learn more about this method as well, and I want to ask my plastic surgeon about it. I REALLY like and appreciate your advice about seeking a referral to PT, and I will follow through with that! Any other ideas or thoughts will be greatly appreciated! I don't THINK I am facing radiation or chemo, but I know that the staging will be done at the time of the surgery, and I've learned NEVER to say 'never'. I am grateful to have you ladies as an online source of support and know from reading your brave words that I too will be able to face that hurdle when and if it comes. Thanks!
Nancy, the DIEP is the newest/best type of autologous reconstruction - absolutely ask your surgeon about it. As I said, I was surprised I really didn't seem to suffer much (if any) loss of abdominal strength from the TRAM - the other muscles stepped in and compensated. But if you can do a DIEP, so much the better. I hope you avoid chemo/radiaiton, because if you do, your recovery will be MUCH faster and less arduous. I can tell you're anxious to be out there pounding the pavement - and trust me, you will... WE ARE STRONG. We don't survive cancer - we CONQUER it. Stya in touch, OK? I'll be anxious to hear how you're doing. PJH
Hi,
I was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. I had a lumpetcomy and radiation treatments. All went well and now I'm trying to get back to my normal routine. I'm an avid runner, doing marathons yearly and I've noticed my breast is sore, muscular sore. I finished radiation in August. My breast doesn't hurt to touch but aches. I've bought a tight compression bra and that seems to help but hope it's okay that I"m putting in the miles. Thanks,
LT
Hi - Always mention these types of symptoms to your oncologist, OK? While they're almost certainly not indicative of cancer, s/he might be able to suggest something to help with the pain. Don't just suffer in silence; ask for help. You may just get it. And congratulations for starting running again - exercise is SO good for you... Good luck - PJH
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Hi my name is Mary,
After having my biopsy it took my breast was still sore because of the tissues that got hard from the procedure. I too tired to exercise and it really hurt so I did not do much until I had my surgery in April. My biposy was in Feb and surgery was late April. Hope you start to feeling better soon.
Mary