How long to wait to run after lumpectomy?

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ReadyAbout
ReadyAbout Member Posts: 211
edited March 2018 in Working on Your Fitness

I am an avid trail runner and found out I had cancer two days before I was supposed to begin training for a 50k. Needless to say, that plan has been temporarily shelved. I'm having a lumpectomy next Friday and am wondering how long I'll need to wait until I can start running again, even if it's just a few miles. When I had the biopsy, the surgeon told me to wait 10-12 days before running, and I laid low for a week and then resumed running with no pain or problems.

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  • Paco
    Paco Member Posts: 208
    edited February 2018

    I had my lumpectomy last Tuesday. I feel pretty good and plan to run tomorrow (today is my strength day). Don't overdo it, but listen to your body. Best of luck for your race training!

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited February 2018

    ReadyAbout, usually the instructions are to limit arm movement for a week or two so I'd guess your doctor would say no running til then. You should expect more soreness from the lumpectomy than you had with the biopsy, especially if you're having a sentinel node biopsy too. But everyone is different so ask your doctor and give yourself some time to test yourself with other forms of exercise. Best of luck.

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited February 2018

    I went to a high impact Zumba class 18 days after my lumpectomy & lymph node biopsy. I kept my arm low, didn't swing it around that class. Had pants with pockets & tried to anchor my hand in there so I wouldn't forget LOL. My breast was a bit sore. I was given a whole bunch of arm exercises to do after the surgery but was not supposed to swing it loosely around. I was cleared for normal activities incl running after 4 weeks. I would suggest a more rigid bra than whatever you were wearing before. I used fairly high support sport bras and still wanted one MORE supportive. The less the girls jiggled the better.

    You can start walking right away though; put on the miles the slow way for a bit ;)

    You might want to join this thread too https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics...


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  • Skier-girl
    Skier-girl Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2018

    Ready about: I too am an avid trail runner here in Utah. I am newly diagnosed and want to know what my summer training/racing plan should be. Running is my happy place!! Right now... I am not too happy. Scared to death to be exact.

    Any suggestions would be great.


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  • ReadyAbout
    ReadyAbout Member Posts: 211
    edited March 2018

    Hey Skier Girl,

    I'm a big believer in following the pain. I had a lot more discomfort after the biopsy than the lumpectomy. I had the lumpectomy last Friday and the next morning felt great. Didn't take any pain pills or Tylenol because I felt so good. I went to the Y and walked on the treadmill for an hour, then pruned all the hydrangeas in our yard and went to grocery store. I went to church and did recumbent bike on Sunday and was back at work on Monday. Did spin class on Wednesday, wore two bras and stayed in the saddle. I saw my surgeon yesterday and she was a little alarmed but I assured her that I am listening to my body. I signed up for a trail 12K on March 17 and I'll walk when I need to. I think I'll try to run a little next Sunday, March 11. I don't say any of this to brag because I hate when people abuse their bodies for bragging rights later. Like you, I wondered about my summer race schedule when I was newly diagnosed, and then I came to accept that nothing was going to go the way I planned. I went from having an easily treatable cancer and quick return to running to discovering I have a rare gene mutation and now I'm leaning towards a mastectomy. On the bright side, I am inexplicably a C cup and it has always been a pain in the _____ with running, so if I have reconstruction, I'm opting for a B cup. Best of luck and follow the pain!

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited March 2018

    I did a 10k and half marathon 3 weeks postop. however I was super sore still so I did walk most of it. and when I did run I held my boob. my race pics are hilarious :p

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