any dancers out there please?

sandrabob

Hi, I am just wondering if there are any dancers out there who have had a mastectomy and lymph nodes removed.....? I have just had those ops and am very anxious about reduced use of right arm. Am very worried as am concerned about doing damage... and basically.... my reach has gone... and not sure if it's ever meant to come back? Anybody have any helpful advice or thoughts please? Very gratefully received....

Also... am trying to decide whether or not to accept radiotherapy... if all the cancer was killed by the chemotherapy (the pathologist apparently said the cancerous cells were no longer 'live' ....then is there really any need for radiotherapy too?)...

ruthbru

What kind of dancing do you do, Sandra?

rleepac

I have been taking a ladies ballet class and I love it. I've had BMX and 2 nodes removed (Aug 2015) but I don't have any LE or restriction issues so it hasn't been a problem.

A lot of people recommended yoga but since I used to ballet dance as a little girl I thought I would do that instead.

ruthbru

If you feel you need some extra help getting your range of motion back, ask for a PT referral. I do Zumba, yoga, walking, light weight lifting, some pilates, lots of stretching & toning exercises etc. etc.. But I started back very,very slowly with the upper body stuff. I had 11 nodes removed and also did radiation. I guess I am pretty traditional as I did everything recommended by my medical team to lower my chance of recurrence. I figured I wouldn't have the chance to be worried about exercise if I ended up fighting for my life....or dead!. My range of motion is good, although the affected side always feels a little tight even this far out (and I imagine it would be really bad if I wasn't using it as much as I do).

sandrabob

Hi, thanks so much for all of this.

I know... why should I be worried about exercise/dance... when I should just be glad to be alive... I know you're right really. Think I'm just going through part of a grieving process. Thought I was going to lose my right breast. Okay. Didn't realise I would (kind of ) lose my main hobby for life (I ballroom dance/ 'used to' ?! ... no... can't bring myself to say that yet....! and was jiving energetically...and being lifted upside down and doing all sorts of lifts....) I know I can go back to doing some dancing...probably /hopefully lots... but competitions will be out (I guess I just hadn't factored this in and been prepared for this loss too...) Probably sounds ridiculous to mention when there are more important things to worry about.

sandrabob

Thank you for the reply... I will go back to trying some ballet along with other dancing at some point... and maybe some yoga... if cording can get a bit sorted...or just do it one sided only!

ruthbru

Once this is all straightened out, there will be no reason why you can't get back to the hobby you love, including competitions and everything else! It will just take a frustrating amount of time to get there!

ShetlandPony

Of course we are glad to be alive, but we need not apologize for wanting to do what brings us joy. We need that joy now more than ever. What do you mean by "reduced use" of your right arm? You say your reach has gone. Have you seen a physical therapist, as Ruthbru suggests? Frozen shoulder can happen after surgery, but therapy can get back range of motion. Don't give up! Give your body time and help to heal.

JCS28

I am nowhere near a professional dancer, but I have enjoyed dancing throughout my life. I did ballet for a long time, a little bit of ballroom, and have enjoyed tap for the past few years as a hobby and exercise. I am only 2 months past my double mastectomy and my range of motion is TOTALLY recovered. The tissue expanders are still a little uncomfortable but I know that is temporary. Also, I don't want to jump yet b/c of the expanders. My strength isn't there yet, but I've just now been given the all clear from my PS to start lifting some. I have been to PT twice and it was great and I will go at least one more time. She started me slowly and worked on my stiff side (side of disease and lymph node removal). I have always been a naturally flexible person, so I think that helped. Also, it sucks to have cancer so young (39 at diagnosis), but the good news is that I heal quickly so far. I think you can optimistic that you'll get back there!

sandrabob

Hi ... thank you for this... it sounds really hopeful and optimistic... I'd been dealing with grieving for boob... but just hadn't got my head around the impact of ? possibly having to grieve for dancing too. Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. I'm still waiting for appointment with physiotherapist. Apparently it might be 4 -6 weeks. Guess I might have to look in to finding one privately. I used to be really flexible on both sides of body and am finding it really hard to think about all the 'what ifs'!

Best of luck with your recovery/getting back on track. Sounds like you have a good physiotherapist if she is working with you so well.

sandrabob

did you have all your lymph nodes removed in diseased side?

ruthbru

You will get it back as long as you work at it (which I am very sure you will do). And you will love dancing even more than you did before.......sometimes when I am dancing or doing other things I love, I almost break into tears because I SO appreciate being able to do them again!!!!!

littleblueflowers

I can't imagine why you couldn't return to your previous level of dance. Just take it slow and work with a physical therapist. It does take time, its a huge injury, but you should be able to come back from it! I'm less than a year out and I think I'm about 75% of normal. I don't dance, but I do rock climb.

LisaAlissa

Sandrabob, you said you "just" had those ops. You'll want to give your lymph system a couple of weeks to heal before you begin pushing to regain your reach, flexibility and strength. Don't raise the arm on the affected side above shoulder level, etc. Don't lift things that are at all heavy (a gallon of milk is out of the question.) All the things your surgeon told you.

Check out the lymphedema board for more information on why you want to give your lymph system a chance to heal while it can...

HTH (and that you're able to regain your abilities),

LisaAlissa

sandrabob

Really glad to hear you're rock climbing again - hope to hear you're 100% before long

sandrabob

Hi - LisaAllisa, thanks so much for your thoughts too... I've been very frustrated here (UK) by not being able to access physio very easily.... just getting through to someone on phone at hosp can take an age... Have been confused too by not wanting to overstretch too soon (as you've pointed out) and also not wanting to miss a window of 'if you don't stretch early enough your arm will only ever have that limited restricting reach?!' ... so yes...I will go and look up the lymphedema boards on this site about exercise and giving lymph area time to heal. Havent even had any leaflets yet about exercises to do or avoid... feel am having to do all my own information-finding online... just wish I'd started so much earlier... ie as soon as had diagnosis..... not after chemo and after surgery!! But I have daughters ....so ....really hoping they never need to research similar online...but...at least another time I will tell them to go online as soon as poss!!

sandrabob

I do understand what you mean about being grateful In between chemo and surgery I did go and do some dancing.... and I used to have to stop from slipping into tears... I was very very grateful to be there at all doing something I love xx

knittingPT

sandrabob, you should be able to get back to your dancing! It will take some time and effort but you can definitely make it back to full range. If you stretch to the point that you feel a stretch but it doesn't hurt, you will find that your range will increase fairly rapidly. (of course, don't start until your surgeon clears you for movement!) Don't let your mind wander ahead to all of the "what -ifs". The body has amazing resilience and you obviously have the determination. Trust in yourself and listen to what your body tells you!

Melpub

Just saw this. I am not a professional dancer, but I did have eight years of ballet long ago with great teachers in New York (Maggie Black, etc) and I still dance as a hobby. I had ten lymph nodes removed (lumpectomy, then they had to go in and get the margins) and after that radiation. In the beginning I couldn't lift my arm over my head. Reaching for something on a high shelf still hurts. I did the recommended exercises (in the little pamphlet they gave me)--also looked at a few YouTube videos, but I continued with ballet and I thought I'd be damned if I didn't at least get my arms in fifth position lifting my elbows. I had the operations in December and January: it is now late June and much range of movement has been recovered, not all. The whole area was initially numb. Parts of my underarm are still numb and my shoulder is still stiff and partially numb; extending that arm behind me is still a problem; won't go all the way. I've found lying down and putting my hand under my head gently stretches the area. May try physiotherapy too. When I ask, they say, "it takes a long time.) I did also crack a rib falling after radiation; they say the radiation had nothing to do with the break and I think well, yeah yeah yeah but that is better. Still a bit sore after two months with that--on same side.