Exercising during Breast Cancer Treatment

By PJ Hamel, Health Guide Monday, April 12, 2010

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Cancer feels like walking down a long, dark path, doesn’t it? You can’t see where you’re going. You don’t know where the path leads. Like any dark place, it’s scary.And you just want to sit down, pull a blanket over your head, and make it all stop.Uh-uh; not an option.Th...

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Elisabeth

4/12/10 9:13am

thank you or all these previous advice! I used to work out 2 hours a day at the gym before all this happens. And i was so worried i would never be able to restart at the same level . Now surely i agree with you , I started walking at the hospital the day after my third and last surgery witch was april 2. And since then i walk every day outside for a short walk with my drains , that is not easy but it feels good , baby steps as it is , i can walk a little bit faster , a liitle bit longer . Nest step will be the chemio in a couple of weeks , another step to recovery......

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/12/10 9:26am

Elisabeth, you're exactly right: baby steps at first, then more, then longer, and eventually you get your life back. In more ways than one! Best of luck with the chemo, and stay in touch here, OK? We can help. PJH

Susannetta

4/12/10 10:44am

Dear PJ,

Thanks for the comprehensive and sensitive article about exercise and BC, to which I'd like to add a plug for dragon boating as a follow-up for your prescription. Teams like the Wellness Snapdragons of Washington, DC, celebrate the end of cancer treatment by encouraging people to begin a new, exhilarating activity that promotes healing and encourages emotional and physical growth. Dragon boating will help you recover upper body flexibility and core strength adding a healthy dose of competition.

Since 1996, when Dr Donald McKenzie started a dragon boat team for breast cancer survivors in Vancouver, dragon boating has become very popular in Canada and has spread to the US, Europe, and down under. On the "US BCS Teams" page of snapdragonsdc.com there are links to 27 Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat teams in the US.

Paddles up!

Susan Joseph, co-captain of the Wellness Snapdragons

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/12/10 10:59am

Totally... Thanks, I forgot about dragon boating. GREAT for recovering range of motion - and, should be checked out with doctor or physical therapist first, as far as lymphedema risk. Though I know it's a vetted lymphedema activity, it has to be done correctly, and at the right stage in the treatment process. Thanks for sharing - PJH

Susannetta

4/12/10 11:24am

Excellent caveats! Thanks for expanding on my comments.

1stepaheda

4/12/10 4:21pm

Thank You PJ,

Your post was so timly and encouraging as always. I just had to laught out loud the moment I began to read it. You see I just got home from a doctor's visit, and it was a bit of bad news (no cancer) but a few other unexpected things that could lead me back down that road. So I had just given a big speech to my daughter and boy-friend as to how I was just tried and I was not going to fight any more and thats that. poor me, right When then I thought I'm going to check my emails since I've been at the docotrs all day. Your email post was the first thing that potted out at me. How timly is that. I had to laugh at my self. What is it they say "it any over till the fat lady sign", and I don't know about you but I don't hear her singing yet Thank you my friend!!!!!

Namaste!

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/12/10 7:38pm

Oh, Stepaheda... PHOOEY on health issues, right?! Jeesh. Could we just be healthy for a change? I'm so sorry you're having to spend hours at the doctor's again. But I'm glad you seem to be smiling a bit now - happy my post could help you do that. Please stay in touch - can we help you figure anything out? Want to vent? You've been such a wonderful, warm presence here... Remember your Reiki. And namaste, sister - PJ

stepaheda

4/14/10 7:12am

Thank you PJ,

and to all my friends out there I couldn't have gotten this far without all of you.

Well, they've given me some more medi's to help with the pain in my stomach, and they are still running tests to try to find out what is causing the pain/swelling. And I have to say their little medicine does seem to work, not as much pain but still very nausea after everything I eat, even if it water. So we know that's not good. Been down in spirits for a few days, but I just have to keep thinking how far I've come, and in the end it will all be ok. Thank you for reminding me of my reiki, I could not make it without it. Because it does help me to keep center/and calm. We should have all the test results back by the end of next month.

Namaste,

Hedda

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/14/10 8:27am

Wow, end of next month ? That's a long wait... I hope in the meantime they fine-tune the medicaitons to keep you comfortable. And do keep up with that Reiki - it allows your body to pitch in with its own healing work. "Just for today..." PJH

stepaheda

4/15/10 7:49am

Hi PJ,

Thanks very encouraging! I am feeling a little better, so I think their medi's are kicking in, less stomach pain. Yes it does seem like a long time to wait for the result, but there are a few more test between that time. So I guess thats ok, not in a hurry for bad news, I can wait if that is the case. In the mean time I'm trying many different things to see what my stomach can handle as far as food. There is a bright side to all of this, maybe I'll lose some weight. (smoothie only).

I'll keep you posted. By the way love the longer Hair!

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/15/10 9:09am

Well, think of it this way - if it was cancer, you don't think they'd make you wait 6 weeks for results, do you? You'd be on the fast track. Hopefully it's gall bladder or something else - actually, hopefully it just goes away!!! Glad you're feeling a bit better - and thanks for liking my hair. Hair is always something we fuss over, isn't it? I'm growing it out, but not sure what to do next. Body wave? Full perm? Hmmm... At least we have hair, huh? That's a step in the right direction! Namaste, sister - PJ

Jan

4/16/10 2:30pm

Hi, P.J. Thanks so much for your great post on exercise all throughout cancer treatment and afterward. I was a runner before diagnosis and continued to run (though at a lesser clip) after I was treated for breast cancer. I can identify with all that you share.

Since I am a lymphedema survivor, I did want to expand upon what you wrote about exercise and lymphedema. On the National Lymphedema Network's website the author of the August 2009 study to which you refer posted a clarification, since the media created many misconceptions about the results. Here's the link to share with those who have lymphedema: http://www.lymphnet.org/pdfDocs/Weight_LE_Misconception.pdf.

Because I follow the sound advice and caveats of this author, my lymphedema remains under control as I perform resistance exercises at the gym. I do agree with you that swimming is a great exercise for those with lymphedema. I incorporate it into my weekly exercise routine.

Thanks again,

Jan

www.janhasak.com

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/16/10 2:44pm

Great information, Jan - thanks so much for sharing this PDF. I'll see about modifying the post. PJH

Exercising during Breast Cancer Treatment

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