Monday, August 29, 2011 sanorita asks

Q: exercise to prevent lymphedema

Hi, can u suggest me some excercises that can reduce lymphedema. my mom has TNBC and has finished with chemo( 4 rounds FEC and 4 rounds Taxol) and is undergoing 5 weeks of radiation....she already had lymphedema but now its getting worse..

since her cancer was node negative(only 4 nodes removed all 4 were negative for ca) the radiologist has reduced some markings and because of her edema the Dr is not giving radiation to the axilla....do i need to worry about it or is it ok??

i have already asked the Dr about it, he says since my mom is node negative she does not need radiation to the axilla as this would reduce her edema ...but am little worried bcoz only 4 nodes were removed....also suggest me some excercises to reduce edema

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Answers (2)

Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide

8/29/11 8:29pm

The radiologist is correct that continuing radiation to the underarm area might increase her edema, and with all the chemo she has had and the negative node count, his approach makes sense. The surgeon sampled the nodes that the cancer would have been most likely to go to. If you are worried about having less radiation than originally planned, getting a second opinion might be helpful.

As far as exercises, your mother should consult with a physical therapist, preferably one who is certified in treating lymphedema. Generally speaking, repetitive exercises can make lymphedema worse, so it is important to build up gradually under the supervision of a specialist who can observe the degree of swelling, your mother's incisions, and her overall degree of fitness. There are websites with typical post-mastectomy exercises, but I would advise your mother against doing them unless she is under medical supervision.

Her swelling may go down as she recovers from treatment.

elenalb

9/ 1/11 11:46pm

At 57 I had 4 rounds nasty chemo, 12 weeks Taxol and 30 radiation treatments, double radical mastectomy and 19 lymph nodes removed from the (right) tumor side (6 were affected) during my surgery. They took lots of "meat" from me and I've had no lymphedema at all (knock on wood) for 8 months. I have been practicing "gentle yoga" for 5 years and all the stretching of my arms has not only given me complete range of motion, when lots of nerves, etc. were severed but allowed me to start doing heavy duty water aerobics (lots of arm work) when the radiation healed in Feb. 2011. I was not an exerciser at all, other than an hour of gentle yoga stretching once a week.

I HIGHLY recommend you and your mom research some local gentle yoga classes locally and talk with the instructor before you attend explaining her limitations. I think working with the yoga arm stretches will work wonders (with your mom's doctor's approval of course). Please email me if you have other questions. Helen Santa Rosa, CA (elenalb@sonic.net)

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

9/ 2/11 8:31am

Great advice, Helen - thanks for sharing. Not only does yoga help with physical healing, it's been shown that yoga helps heal emotionally; studies show that breast cancer survivors who practice yoga have a better outlook on life, and are less stressed. One caveat - GENTLE yoga is the way to go, at least at first; you don't want to jump right into something too vigorous, which might stress your healing body too much. Thanks again for posting this - PJH

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