Working out post mastectomy

I would recommend the following:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics...

and since you already have the implants maybe this one isn't as helpful, but I think there was some good advice mixed in with the horror stories.....

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

I'm quite sure the 10-lb. limit is outdated. The thing to remember is, don't just jump right back in at the level you were before surgery. Start low and increase slowly and gradually. You will hate it, but better safe than sorry.

As far as personal experiences - my surgeon was totally off base, but I had no clue at the time of course - he saw me for the last time two weeks post surgery, to check that the incision was healed, and at that time he said I should go right back to doing anything I wanted, anything I was doing before, no restrictions, just let the pain be my guide - if something hurts, don't do it. Which is wrong on so many levels, lol. There are some things I have never been able to do again, but they had to remove my chest muscle, so that's why...

hi Chloe, congrats on 6 weeks out and feeling great! I had BMX but no recon so my experience is different than yours. However, wanted to second Jennie's first rec to check out the Guidelines on Exercise for those with/at-risk for Lymphedema thread. There's info for you and your trainers. Here's a link to page one plus I'll bump it to the top of Active Topics for you. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics/801453?page=1

Please also check out Let's Post our Daily Exercise thread. We're a diverse group of all ages, stages, and levels of fitness who support and encourage each other. We have members in all stages of treatment including tissue expanders, and welcome new posters. Here's a link to the most recent page. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics/741082?page=1091#idx_32718

I was not in good physical shape post-surgery so started a walking program with a slog to the mailbox and back. Had an initial goal of 100 miles. Counted down from 100 instead of up from zero as it helped more to see 99.9 than .1 LOL. Started counting up once I hit my goal. Have now logged thousands of miles walked. See signature line, which is where I keep track. I did well with that program but recently joined a gym to add more weight-bearing exercise as an alternative to bone-building drugs.

Wishing you well and sending gentle ((hugs)).

I am an athlete and weight training is a key element of my training. I had direct to implant recon with Alloderm slings, and since I was not a typical recon patient, my PS & BS said I would teach them what was possible. I chose a PS whose practice was a mix of implant recon and breast augmentations, including on many body builders, to maximize my chances of an optimal outcome, because of my extremely low body fat. I saw a certified breast lymphedema PT weekly for months to work back to developing my strength safely. Since you have had 2 lymph nodes removed, you will want to minimize your risk of lymphedema. At 4 weeks post-sx, I was cleared and tried to do a pushup and was only able to do so from my knees. I worked back to being able to crank off pushups, including one arm pushups, but it took close to a year to completely regain my strength capabilities. Today, I am stronger than I ever was and the fittest I have ever been. I can do overhead presses with 100lbs (I weigh 112). I regularly use 20-40lb dumbbells for arm exercises. I do tricep dips and wide grip pullups with a dip belt and a 25lb plate. The first 6 months were the most challenging and I had to work through a lot of yuck discomfort to regain my strength. When you push yourself athletically, feeling some discomfort during and sore after a workout is common. Pushing the envelope involves discomfort, but it is critical for injury avoidance that you need to recognize pain that could lead to injury and pain and discomfort at are part of safe muscle overload. I had very strong pecs pre-recon, which gave my PS more to work with. The larger your implant who have very underdeveloped pecs (this also is correlated with body size, so implants won't be correspondingly as large on a women with a bigger build), the more your pecs will be stretched and that will more likely lead to the iron bra feeling. Women with thin underdeveloped pecs are more prone to experiencing the iron bra feeling when their pecs are stretched to accommodate large implants. My implants are 295, which are a B on me. I had the iron bra sensation for the first day or 2 after surgery, then never again. Here's some info from bco on finding a lymphedema therapist with links to sites for locating a certified lymphedema specialist. You could also ask your docs for recommendations and a referral. You need patience, determination and resilience to regain your strength safely, but it is absolutely possible. Best of luck!

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema/therapist

Chloe, when did you have your mastectomy? I’m almost 3 weeks from my BMX with tissue expanders and was told I can pretty much only walk. I’m missing my workouts now that I’m feeling better. That’s fabulous you’re getting your implants soon.

Did they say you can’t workout for 4 months once implants are in? Or am I reading that wrong?

I agree with Chloe, even though I don't have expanders. I had direct implant. But still... be very, very careful. Light, light upper body work for at least a year, per my surgeon.

This is an old thread, but I wanted to say, I joined a Livestrong exercise program for free, at the Y, in January. That was less than 2 months out from my surgery. I have no restrictions on what I can lift, or do. The program has been awesome!

Hello.. My dog has metastatic breast cancer , previously operated once .. the lump is increasing in size despite giving homeopathy tablets for 3 months. What can be done furthur?

I had a bilateral mastectomy in May 2017 with tissue expander placement prepectoral. My post op instructions included lifting nothing heavier than 3 lbs for the first 3 months, then 5 lbs for two months, etc - and then I had my implants swap in October and was finally given approval to exercise in January. I joined the local rec center and started off with gentle stuff like yoga and have progressed already to more intensive exercise (with small weights for now) without any issues. I never knew I would be so happy to be able to exercise again!!

It sounds like doctors are all over the board with recommendations about restrictions on exercise postop! And of course, I am sure it varies a lot depending on what surgery you had done - expanders, implants, lymph nodes, prepectoral, etc. I assume even breast size makes some difference as I imagine when to begin jogging with large implants would have to wait longer than someone with much smaller ones because of the weight and strain they would be on the pocket?