lift weights with lymph nodes removed?

Diane, I have started slowly working out with weights - I have my lumpectomy / lymph node surgery in February 2009 and it wasn't until recently that I've added light (2 lb) weights, mostly working the biceps / triceps and very slowly moving into overhead exercises, but I'm still a little rads sore too.  I think moderation is going to be the key - I wasn't told not to, just not to over exert.  Good luck!

I had 8 nodes removed.  I started with mild stretches until I no longer had any discomfort in the arm.  I did normal gardening and house work for two years and now have joined CURVES.  I find the work out terrific for toning my arms and rest of my poor self.     Since the machines are computerized, each one is set for the individual .  It is a great program.  I have had no problems with swelling.

Best wishes to all.

notself

There is disagreement over this, old science says go very easy, new science says it's ok to be more active.

Hi, all,

Actually, the old prohibition against using the at risk arm at all was debunked several years back, as the guidelines for exercise at the National Lymphedema Network indicate. They're here:

http://www.lymphnet.org/pdfDocs/nlnexercise.pdf

There was a weight-lifting study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine that looked at control of swelling in women WITH LYMPHEDEMA who did weight lifting -- with well-fitted custom compression garments, when they were at least a year out of cancer treatment and their lymphedema was stable, while under the close supervision of fully-trained lymphedema therapists and specially-trained physical trainers who had been specifically instructed in lymphedema and in proceeding VERY slowly. It showed that women with lymphedema who lifted weights under these conditions did not have more flares of their swelling than women who did not lift weights. The ones who lifted weights also got stronger. It did not study women at risk for lymphedema at all, though that half of the study will be published before long.

The media jumped on this study and sadly misinterpreted it to mean that women at risk for lymphedema could lift weights with abandon and not risk lymphedema. But that is not in any was what the study showed. Dr. Kathryn Schmitz, the lead author of this study, has made every effort to get the word out that her study showed no such thing, but those rumors persist, and they may be damaging if they're not tempered with care and attention.

The lymphedema information website, StepUp-SpeakOut.org (which several of us here on the bc.org boards started to help breast cancer survivors get the information they need about lymphedema) has a newsletter coming out in the next few day that includes an analysis of this study and the media coverage, plus an interview with Dr. Schmitz to help clarify the issues that have gotten so confused. If you'd like to read it, go to the home page and click on the newletter sign-up.

While there are loads of controversial issues swirling around the subject of lymphedema and our risk for it following breast cancer treatment, the idea of proceeding very slowly and paying careful attention to your arms for any signs of stress, heaviness or swelling is definitely not controversial -- in fact, it's one really good way to help hold lymphedema at bay.

Be well, all!
Binney