After Biopsy / lumpectomy?

Howdy, Journey and welcome. I am also a martial artist but didn't start training until after bc, but I did have a wire-guided biopsy. Only had one incision, but I was back in the gym (light running and lifting as I wasn't doing karate yet) in about 8 days or so.

Your breast will be a little sore, probably. The best thing to do while recovering is to let your body do what it needs to do (I know, I know, it is soooo hard to sit still, right?!?). The last thing you want to do is come back to soon and really hurt yourself. But once your doc goves the ok to return to your normal activities, let pain be your guide. If it hurts, modifiy it or don't do it. Trust me, it may seem like forever before you can do your regular stuff again, but it won't be...

When is your surgery? 

Hey Journey...I'm not in MA, but am a fitness instructor and a total gym rat. In 2005, I had several biopsies and a lumpectomy that was wire-guided. I worked out very strenuously leading up to the surgeries so that if I had to take time off, it wouldn't set me back too much. But I was surprised to find that I had minimal pain, virtually no bruising, and could get back to exercising as rigorously as I wanted within about a week. The main thing they had me be careful about was the potential bleeding at the incision site, but that was only for several days. For the biopsies, I only waited about 3 days, though they advised 5-7 (I think). As Felicia recommends, let your body tell you what it needs.

~Marin

Journey,

There are a few MAs on the board including Jorf who is a bb in Tae Kwon Do and MBeth who got her bb in Kung Fu a couple of years ago. So sorry to hear about your dan testing being moved back - so sucks! But the good news is that December really isn't THAT far away. Perhaps you'll still be able to test in September if your results from the biopsy are good, no?

I train in USA Goju, which is the Americanized version of Okinawan/Japanese Goju-Ryu. Like I mentioned, I started training during radiation (not the best time to start, I guess, but I had my docs' permission) after retiring from a long career in track and field. I watched my son train in karate for over a year before I decided (after a lot of prodding by our sensei) to try it. I fell in love with the art instantly.

I'm scheduled to test for shodan in May 09, right along with my son who will be 15 in a few weeks (he will be one of the youngest in our clan to ever test for shodan; they are not big on 8-yr-old black belts, lol). I really really wanted to do the "Karate Mom" thing for his test - y'know, video camera, pics, the whole nine - but it seems like since I'll be testing with him, my hubby-to-be will have to do the photographic honors...

Is Choi Kwang Do a Korean style as well? I'd love to hear more about your style. One of my training partners is an E Dan (is that the way to write it?) in Tang Soo Do but also left due to some political crap in the dojang. She will also test with us in May 09 (and she's 48!; in fact, four of the five of us testing will be over 40; my son will be the lone exception)...

Due to some achy knees and lower back twinges, I'm taking a few weeks off from the dojo (I'd hate to get hurt in, say, April or so) to heal a bit. But I missed it so much last week I went to class twice! So much for taking a little time off, lol...

I'll pm you my email addy so we can chat a bit more. All the best with your surgery next week - and keep us posted on how you are doing...