Heat Lamps at the Hair Salon?

mitziandbubba

I don't have LE but of course I am at risk. My normal colorist has me sit under heat lamps for about 1 hour and I am worried this might be heating up my BC side. The lamps are positioned around my head but my neck and shoulders do get some heat. She told me I need to have heat for the color to process (I'm a dyed blonde).

What does everyone think about this? Am I worrying about it needlessly? I feel like I fret so much over everything LE related. My PT told me in not so many words that I am paranoid.

edj3

I get my hair touched up every three weeks and sit under the glorious heat lamp (truly love it). No issues at all!

mitziandbubba

@edj3 of course, we have more in common. I think I'm gonna sit under the silly heat lamp and get my blonde exactly as I want it. I'm already avoiding saunas, hot tubs etc etc - not a big deal for me b/c I hate being hot actually.

A lot of people told me OMG YOU DYE YOUR HAIR AFTER CANCER but that's bad for you? And during the whole treatment process, I had a moment where I told my husband, I'm going to go gray and stop wearing makeup and BOY did he let me have it. I use all natural beauty products and have for maybe 15 years - my hair was the only thing and oh guess what? I got cancer anyway guys!!

edj3

Yup yup--I'm one of those super fit clean eaters and still got BC! Go figure.

mitziandbubba

Me too. Love workouts, never eat sugar and BAM! I ate all the kale, did all the yoga and have zero family history. I think it quite upsets people actually to find out that I got BC. I think we all want to explain the WHY of cancer. I know I do!

edj3

You are so right--people want a reason why we got it (and presumably why they WON'T get it). Sorry, you too may have cells that hold what another BC poster calls mutant cell uprisings.

mitziandbubba

I never for a moment thought that a healthy lifestyle was going to prevent anything. I just liked it. When I got my diagnosis I just said "why not me" vs "why me" bc I am human and human beings get cancer. I was actually in downward dog in yoga when this thought came to me. I have always thought of myself as an overachiever but I am as human and vulnerable as anyone. Not to mention that nearly everyone I know who has had cancer is a very active, healthy eater

edwards750

The fact is my oncologist told me they do not know why some ladies get BC and others don’t despite the so called criteria they advertise.

Diane

mitziandbubba

@edwards - I found the best line on Instagram for when people ask "So why do you think you got cancer?" I was at a wellness conference recently and someone asked - so I tried it. I looked her straight in the eye and said "I've been thinking about that. I'm pretty positive it was your fault actually." And then I laughed.

rlmessy

mitziandbubba...I care for my mom, a 13 year breast cancer survivor, with lymphedema.

She 80 years old and she totally goes for quality of life and there are just some things she is not willing to give up.

She does a water aerobics class and gets cold when she gets out of the water. She sits in the sauna for 5 minutes even after her therapist says not to. I have argued with her in the past but after receiving my own BC dx totally realize where she is coming from and dont say anything anymore.

With your heat lamp, I would keep your lymphedema arm covered and just keep an eye on any extremely hot patches.

Live a good life!!

mitziandbubba

Aw, hugs to your mom for living her life to the fullest! I'll be getting my hair done under the heat lamp on Saturday.

vlnrph

Mitzi&bubba, I hope you were doing a modified downward dog when you had that revelation! I would be very cautious putting weight on an extended limb due to lymphedema risk. My compromise is to rest my elbow/forearms on the mat.

Here's a website to check out if you haven't seen it yet www.StepUp-SpeakOut.org: there is a list of yoga poses which require special consideration along with other exercise concerns...

mitziandbubba

Thank you vlnrph! That particular downward dog happened pre surgery. I have not attempted it since! I have visited that very informative website and I also see a LANA certified PT who has given me so much information and help.

As long as we are on the subject, how the heck does anyone do yoga with the restrictions? I think the class I normally take might just be too challenging. I tried it a little while ago and someone actually walked up to me and said why bother coming if I can't do the flows and that I was throwing HER off. So I honestly have not been keen to return to yoga. Although I never look at others during yoga at all, I found that strange.

Since I started working out again (only since end of August and I have taken a few weeks off b/c I have a virus) I have had two women call me out that way in the gym and it made me very angry, I should make a post about it!

edj3

mitziandbubba I'm just now able to do a crappy down dog and I've been done with radiation since the end of June. It's a real drag, all the pec pain and tightness. And screw those women (I said it nicely in a different reply).

pupmom

edj3, "screw those women?" What are you talking about?

Euphoriaa

I'm a yoga teacher. My professional life is over. Surgery and rads have made asanas impossible. I'm so depressed...

MinusTwo

I've switched to Chair Yoga. Did you all know there is such a thing as a Certified Yoga Nurse?

Euphoria - Don't give up. I'm constantly amazed at what this talented lady is teaching everyone. Originally the class started for the hospital's oncology patients. She is an oncology nurse navigator. It was so popular they opened it up to the entire hospital and then to the whole community. In addition to modified poses, we're learning lots of breathing and acupressure techniques. And meditation of course. Seniors who can no longer get on the floor are clamoring for more, but younger people who are re-grouping or recovering from whatever are just as excited. Everyone I've talked to wishes it were more than once a week.

She has shared several books with us. If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll ask for her list.

Oh - and Silver Sneakers is another class that incorporates Yoga positions. It's geared for the over 50 set but available at many YMCAs and gyms like LA Fitness and even churches in some parts of the country. They're always looking for teachers. Again, we don't get on the floor but there are some valuable exercises.

edj3

pupmom, mitziandbubba posted here and in another thread about some women at her gym making nasty comments. Those women.

mitziandbubba

Euphoriaa - I am so sorry. My friend is a yoga teacher with osteoporosis and was told that she'd never do yoga again. That was years ago and now she teaches all over the country! She was just not willing to stop.This same friend though - she does not do the poses in class with us. She does her own practice but not in class. She teaches advanced classes and the students all know the postures. I hate to trivialize what you are going through - but could that be an option? There is also a thing I saw at one point where you can be a cancer certified yoga instructor. I know b/c I looked for one in my area and of course, I live in the middle of nowhere so no.

Is it not possible for us to work our way up to asanas? TBH, I'm not such a yoga fan, I force myself - so if I can't do them, I'll live. But I thought we could work our way back to such things?

MinusTwo - I love that there is a yoga nurse! And I could actually check out silver sneakers - I mean I'm under 50 but why not?

MinusTwo

mitzi - I don't think anyone has ever carded people at Silver Sneakers. At LA Fitness, if you belong to the gym you can go to any class. I think it's the same from my friend who takes classes at the YMCA. Good basic low pressure work out for anyone recovering from surgery or an illness Then you can move on back to more difficult things.

rlmessy

Are you all saying totally no to yoga with lymphedema in general or just no to certain poses or during what I call an "active flare" where arm is swollen or you are recovering from an infection?

I am heading into treatment...surgery and whatever comes after that and am creating a work out plan to support me thru the next year. I was going to include some yoga.

My mom does more upper body stretching so the yoga issue never came up with her. But I had an assumption yoga, even modified would be a a good addition to lymphedema care??

MinusTwo

rlm - I don't choose to do any exercises that require me to hold my weight up on my arms. I don't remember tracking that specifically with the LE, I just found the poses extremely uncomfortable after my 3rd surgery. Part of the problem is no doubt the CIPN (chemo neuropathy) in my feet. Because I have no feeling, my balance is shot. No "tree" for me.

I do lift weights - gradually building up to heavier weights as recommended by my LE PT. I do elliptical. I just try to build upper body strength in alternative ways.

Many people do modified yoga. Some wear compression sleeves. Everyone is different.

VLH

I took 12 weeks of chair yoga for free through the Livestrong program. I have a badly encapsulated shoulder on my cancer / lymphedema side as well as severe Fibromyalgia and a herniated disc. The yoga was far more effective at loosening my shoulder adhesions than the excruciatingly painful PT sessions I quickly abandoned years ago. Although technically part of the YMCA Silver Sneakers program, anyone could attend. I couldn't do the "official" breast cancer program because it included exercises requiring arms extended overhead and on the floor. The trainer tried to suggest modifications as we rotated through the equipment, but I felt the odd person out. In chair yoga, it didn't affect anyone else if I couldn't reach above shoulder level and getting down on a mat was optional with the class split about 50/50.

Lyn

rlmessy

MinusTwo...gotcha and that totally makes sense. I would not have my mom do weight bearing exercises either.

Is the reaching overhead limitation common? My mom had a R MX with no reconstruction and given she was a minimal exerciser at 67 when DX'd and treated after surgery with chemo and radiation and now is 80 with walking and water aerobics as her thing. No one has ever mentioned limiting overhead stretches or use of her right arm. And, we work with a LE OT.

My surgery is going to be a double MX with no reconstruction and wow if I am limited in overhead reach or mobility that will add to the sucky factor of BC for me.

MinusTwo

I was not allowed to lift my arms over my shoulders for awhile (can't remember how long). Then I was instructed to walk my fingers up the wall as a first exercise. There were several others that gradually increased my range of motion.

Five years, out, I have no overhead restrictions. And I do weight bearing exercises. I just don't balance my weight on my arms, like push ups or pushing up into a downward dog.

mitziandbubba

Can I just say that I love how this thread turned into a thread about exercise?

Euphoriaa

My problem is not lymphedema (I don't think I have it, or not yet) but the pain in my arm / armpit / breast. It is worst after rads. Apparently there is a tendon that is shortening the movement of my arm. Anyone else experience pain without lymphedema in the arm? I finished rads 6 weeks ago, is it normal to hurt like that? 😫

mitziandbubba

Euphoriaa, I had some pain after rads which finished in August. It still hurts a little bit when I get up in the morning - very stiff - but nothing major. What I do have is pain in my elbow - after surgery I had some issues straightening my arm and I think I held it bent a lot. I am in PT for the elbow pain. I started PR during rads which helped with the pain and range of motion. I have full range of motion now but the stupid elbow is still sore.

edj3

Euphoriaa, I do. I'm six months out from surgery and four months out from rads. My pec and armpit hurt all the time. At this point, after having gone to OT for two and a half months, seen my MO, my RO and my BS--all agree my pec has scarred from radiation and that plus the swelling in my left breast can take a year to go away. If it does.

So I've basically decided if I'm not damaging myself, I'm going to work out the way I did before breast cancer. I do include planks, push ups, down dog, weights, all of it. Yes it hurts. I don't give a flying f*ck.

mitziandbubba

edj I like your attitude! I did expect to feel the same but I don't unfortunately. I have lost so much ground with my fitness. My elbow is very sore on my cancer side still. I'm still afraid of lymphedema but less so. It is really my elbow that prevents me from doing some things now vs lymphedema fear though - it hurts to even do child's pose - which is actually something my PT wants me to do.

My BS also said it will take a year to see the result of the swelling. My swelling seems to be getting better and better as time goes by. It was unbelievably swollen for a while, to the point where I thought I was going to want reconstruction because I was so lopsided. I'm actually so happy with how everything looks now, I am SO lucky.

Euphoriaa

Edj3, I also think that is the right attitude. I will exercise despite the pain, because maybe it hurts forever. Who knows?

Mitziandbubba: My elbow hurts too! It is pain, mixed with numbness and electricity. I hope we all get well soon ❤