Upper body strength?

I lift 10 lb free weights 5 days a week.  Lighter ones just don't do it.

I resumed this about the same time I started chemo.  All is well.  If I hadn't been doing this prior to diagnosis, I would have worked with the professionals though.

Good luck. - Claire

I do upper body weights like biceps, triceps, and shoulder and back exercises but haven't done bench press or chest exercises..I also do the arms on the eliptical

Cora....I spent a lot of time at the "95% back" stage.  I found it took about one year from active treatment to get my game back on.  Hang in there.

I had a lumpectomy, so didn't have your upper body challenges.....just maintaining, which I did.

But still took a year for full energy.  Now I am fitter than ever. - Claire

Getting my upper body strength back is a huge problem for me.  Given surgery, chemo and Femara (with s/e of fatigue, joint pain & swelling and "menopause on steroids") I'm not sure I will. Plus I developed trunkal LE early on, posibly due to a clueless PT having me do strenuous push-ups without compressive garments. 

Here is the NLN Position Paper on Exercise: http://www.lymphnet.org/pdfDocs/nlnexercise.pdf   

I took a copy of that position paper, and the Schmitz study on weight-lifting & LE risk, to a good physical therapist and asked him to do a home exercise program for me. So for several weeks we worked on upper body and core conditioning and strength-training, I wore compression garments, and gradually improved. Now I rarely wear the compression garments because I have the Femara hot flashes from hell.

I'd generally recommend a PT over a personal trainer, since they're used to designing home exercise programs and have more education.

Gradual increase is important, and be cautious on resistance exercise. The LE topic board has some very knowledgeable posters.

I did only lower body exercise for 5 months after diagnosis. Then I started to add dance arm movements and PT-recommended exercises for the next 7 months. I also had lymph drainage and scar massage during this time to prevent lymphedema. I learned how to massage myself and it has come in very handy. A year after dx I hired a personal trainer who started me out with elastic bands and own weight exercises. He quickly realized I had zero upper body strength so it was a very gradual progression. Eventually I could do free weights and with some help from him some machines. These days I can do all the machines at the gym without someone helping me lift the bare minimum weight. Slow but steady will get you to your goal.

A good option for upper body might be TRX. If you don't know what it is, go here:

www.trxtraining.com

 It uses your own body weigh to train the entire body, and you adjust the difficulty by changing your position in relation to the overhead anchor of the straps.

I'm back to doing it 3.5 weeks after partial mastectomy (and 2 nodes removed) and doing fine. I saw a lymphedema specialist and he gave me clearance to go back to my normal activity, but I'm definitely taking it a little easier and haven't picked up a weight yet.  I normally curl 15/20 pound dumbells and bench press 85 pounds, so I don't think that's a good idea just yet!!  

I just underwent BMX, have tissue expanders, and am awaiting DIEP reconstruction after radiation and possibly chemo (still waiting for report), I lifted moderately heavy weights for a 53 year old Mom and did so up to two days before my BMX. I want to return to lifting. My pec muscles were extremely strong and looked great. Now I am concerned about reconstruction, not to mention lympheda (four nodes removed) if I return to weight lifting. The available information seems mixed. I did look at the PALs website, but am searching for more information. Are there any DIEP survivors who do heavy weight lifting? Am I just dreaming? Will my activities be more limited if I choose reconstruction or am I already limited because of the BMX and node removal?

i power houseclean, throwing in pushups against the counters.  seriously.. five at a time.  still in shape after all these years. (not a powerhouse tho).

I started out doing yoga at the fitness center at the medical center. They have free classes for cancer patients and survivors. It helped. I have now started at gym with trainer. At first I could not raise 2lbs over by head. Now I am up to 10lb. I agree free weights are better...start with the water bottle or what feels ok. Work up to more. I would suggest a trainer...they can target movements for you and watch to make sure how you are doing.

MellyT     I am working slowly back into upper body exercises, 10 weeks post BMX.   I started with simple PT recommended stretches, and worked up to a modified pilates routine that includes upper body work.  What I have done so far has greatly increased range of motion and I'm back to about 80% arm strength, compared to pre-surgery.   It's complicated to work with LE issues, and if you are experiencing lymphedema symptoms it's important to get professional advice about it right away, from a lymphedema specialist.  

The Norton or Lebed exercises for lymphedema are helpful too, more information is available on the lymphedema threads.   

The following threads might be useful:

"GRRRRR - I hate lymphedema"       Binney and Kira are wonderfully supportive 

"Let's Post Our Daily Exercise" as ruthbru mentioned above.   

Good luck, and hope this helps.   

Joy 

coraleliz, I just don't worry about LE and climbing. I've had bilaterals with recons, too. When outside, I'm vigilant about taking care of scrapes and scratches. Indoors, it's not a problem.