Yoga anyone?

cp418

I am very fortunate that a community wellness center opened last year near me.  It is specific for cancer patients with support group meetings and recently has added more areas for guest speakers on nutrition, health, yoga, etc.  Basically the support and information not provided by our local hospitals when patients complete treatment.

Yesterday I checked their calendar and they had a yoga class before lunch time.  I decided to give it a try.  Ladies I can strongly recommend this form of gentle exercise and stretching!!  I finally had a decent night sleep without my typical lower back and hip pain!!  This only by attending my first session!  I bad body stiffness made much worse with the cold winter weather.  I try to do daily walks but it was not enough.  Yes, I still get up with my achy feet in the morning with the plantar facialis (spelling?)  but it wasn't as bad.  I will definitely make yoga a top priority in on a regular basis.  Also, attending the class made me more motivated in teh group setting with the other bc ladies.  Fun - - - give it try if you are able. 

AnneW

Yoga is amazing. So restorative, you listen to your body and do what you can do, no competition. I love Pilates even more. Glad your'e enjoying your yoga experience!

Anne

lvtwoqlt

I too have joined a restorative yoga class at the local wig bank. It is sponsored by the cancer center at the hospital and led by the cancer coordinator. I love going to it every week. it has helped me learn to relax and sleep better. I am trying to get my son to go to help him get back into normal sleep patterns after 4 yrs in the Navy.

Sheila

Boscoe

Have practiced yoga for well over a year, you will be completely amazed at the benefits you'll find that come with a regular yoga practice.  The deep breathing has taught me to de-stress, my posture is better.

Interesting article about yoga and other complimentary treatments in cancer treatment

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/nyregion/30yoga.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

EWB

I have taken a restorative yoga class at the local cancer center (thankfully open and free of charge to all even if not treated at that center)  Trying to find other  classes to take- would love to take every day if I could.  Problem finding any one who offers class in restorative.  Any ideas? anyone know of tapes or cds, I'd do at home if possible

Elaine 

StaceyR

Elaine,

I do yoga at home and download free 20-minute routines on iTunes from yogadownload.com.  It's available as a free podcast if you happen to use iTunes.  Otherwise, I believe you can also download from their website at http://www.yogadownload.com/.  They have a variety of routines to choose from with different intensity levels.

Stacey

EWB

Thanks Stacey, I'll check it out.

Elaine 

RobinWendy

I find yoga to be an amazing help with my general well being.  I am Stage IV but am feeling well.  When I get into the groove of going 3-4 times a week, I feel so good that I forget I have cancer.  unfortunately, life does not always allow the time for such dedication.  When I am going consistently, I really feel that I am fighting the cancer.  And the wierd thing is, when I go for my scans and they are good, it almost always corresponds to the time when I've been on track with my yoga.  Where I go, there are restorative as well as more challenging yoga classes and I usually mix it up.  I love it.  Unfortunately, I broke my wrist in three places about two weeks ago requiring surgery to repair.  My doctor says he may give me the OK to start yoga again in another month, and I cannot wait.

I heartily recommend yoga for everyone!!!  Tried to get my husband into it, but he is a yoga drop-out.

Namaste

Robin

terrilee

I've been doing Kundalini yoga weekly most weekends, and would like to increase my practice. It really does help, and I'll try the iTunes to see if there is something that may work for me in between. Thanks for the tip.

Terri 

laureg

I've been doing yoga for over a year now and always felt good about it even through chemo and rads. I'm 10 weeks post radiation and now have developed lymph edema in my breast and armpit that is getting in the way with certain poses and uncomfortable. I know we are at risk for it but now I'm worried that Yoga poses and exercise made it all worse. Anyone have any thoughts about this? 

terrilee

I had some lymphedema when I lifted too much weight on a day when I was feeling good. Massage helped it, although I'm going to see a physical therapist who is a specialist this week to get more info. I'm guessing you may have been putting too much weight on the area. It has taken me months to get to the point I can do sun salutations, and I still modify a bit. I hope to start weight training soon so I can gradually handle more activity. I want to be able to garden this spring! I'll have to start out with two pound weights, I've lost so much strength. 

I'm 13 weeks into chemo and have another fourteen weeks or so until I do radiation, so I'm not as far along. I'll let you know if I learn anything interesting tomorrow from the PT.

  

laureg

Terrilee,

I have done cardio, weights and yoga ever since 1 month post surgery. It kept up my strenght and sanity during those months of chemo and was a good measuring tool for my strenght. I doubt that I overdid it, think the radiation brought it on.

My experience with massages is that it doesn't feel good anymore. My onc is aware of the newly developed edema and just wants to monitor it.

 

Binney4

Hi, laureg,

Sad fact is, our surgeons and oncs often aren't up-to-date on lymphedema, and their original med school training in the subject was sketchy at best. Because it is not treated with either drugs or surgery they sometimes fail to understand the significance of early treatment.

Before lymphedema swelling becomes visible or measurable, there is already about 30 percent more lymph fluid stagnating in the tissues than should normally be there. So once you develop symptoms, the condition is already present. The quicker you get treatment for it, the easier it is to manage and the better the outcome.

Here's the reason: like breast cancer, lymphedema is staged, and it will progress unless it's treated. Progression does not necessarily mean more swelling, but it does mean more (and permanent) damage to the tissues inside. Stagnant lymph fluid is protein rich and encourages the development of both fibrosis (hardening of the tissues) and permanent fat deposition under the skin. The fibrosis leads to further lymph blockage and eventually to reduction in arm and shoulder strength and range of motion. It's a slow progression, but it's real. Treatment involves moving the stagnant fluid out of the tissues and encouraging remaining lymph vessels to redirect the fluid back into the center of the body and into circulation.

Lymphedema treatment begins with an evaluation by a well-trained lymphedema therapist (that's a PT, OT or MT with at least 135 hours of specifically lymphedema training beyond her/his PT, OT, or MT certification). These are the professionals trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat lymphedema. It's important to find one who's been well-trained and has some experience, so here are two websites for finding one near you:

www.mylymphedema.com  (Click on the Therapist Locator and follow all the links)

www.clt-lana.org

You're right that radiation (and breast surgery as well) can contribute to lymphedema risk, but so can overdoing the exercise. Though exercise itself promotes lymph flow, stressing or straining your arm causes your body to send extra lymph fluid to the site and can overwhelm an already-compromised lymph system. Until you can get in to see a lymphedema therapist, do back off on those yoga positions that involve weight bearing on that arm. Once the lymphedema is under control you can experiment with which exercises help and which cause you further problems.

The National Lymphedema Network has position papers on Risk Reduction and on Exercise here:

www.lymphnet.org

And there's a website about lymphedema for women (and men) who have had breast cancer, here:

www.stepup-speakout.org

There's also a discussion board on this site called "Lymphedema after Surgery" where there are plenty of caring women to answer any questions you might have.

Please do insist on a prompt referral for evaluation, and stay on top of this and in control. It will make a HUGE difference to your continued quality of life.

Be well!
Binney

Katalin

A small caution on the yoga forefront.  I was doing hot yoga for a while, a year after I'd finished chemo.  The studios recommend it as a way to "detox", and say that it's very beneficial.  I'd say be cautious before doing this:  it took me a few weeks to realize it was making me feel worse, sapping the energy out of me.  I think it was detoxing me, and subsequently when I went to my naturopath, she said that I was not ready to detox.  2 and a half years later, I'm still not up to that.  To paraphrase Phil, "What was I thinking???"  

Fllorik

There seems to be different types of yoga. How do you know which one to pick? I would like to try it, too! 

golfer779

Fllorik, I would be called from an experience Yoga student a virgin !    I just started wtih a local community rec center not knowing at all what to expect.   Upon my first visit I was made to feel competent, and the instructor always has a beginner pose and than a more advanced technique for some participants.  Interestingly, I just was chatting with a friend who mentioned about doing yoga in a very warm environment (such as a room with the temp around 90).  I have had zero experience with this, with my hot flashes that sounds a bit scary.  My suggestion would be to call around, ask if they cater to beginner's, age demographics, etc. 

Bottom line is that I truly look forward to my class twice a week, with my aches and pains from Femara, I truly think the benefit from the stretching is a good thing.  Good luck ... Carol

Katalin

Carol, that warm-room yoga is "hot yoga".  I'd say talk to your doctor before doing it.  The warmth is nice, and it's quiet and warm, and you sweat up a pool of water (people are almost splashing in their own puddles), and it should be clean. It can be wicked hot (picture exercising on a HOT HOT summers day...and think is that the best thing to do?  Maybe when you're better?

juliejfsrj

I did hot yoga before and two weeks after my surgery.  I went all through radiation, and developed axillary web syndrome.  My surgeon told me I could continue yoga, and eventually the problem would disappear.  It did, and I continued hot yoga.  The stretching and the focus required helped me immensely.  I was extremely stressed out.  I tried to go 4 times per week, but sometimes did become so exhausted I would have to spend three hours in bed with a severe headache.  Yet, I was addicted to this wonderful torture until I lost too much weight.  My oncologist told me I should have gained 10 or 20 pounds with the treatment, yet I lost 8 pounds.  I quit doing yoga, but have noticed slowly that several arthritic pains have come back from the lack of stretching.  I think bikram yoga is wonderful, but have had to take a six month break from the intensity while finishing up with herceptin.