Will I be able to go surfing after surgery?

Wow this is amazing. I grew up on the Jersey Shore, just a few miles from Ocean City/Atlantic City area and that is where I learned to surf. My husband who loves surfing too is from Ocean City and he was a lifeguard on the OC beach patrol during the summer-that is how we met. Our first date was going surfing together. I have surfed Florida(Jacksonville, Pensacola and Bradenton areas when we got swells from storms), Corpus Christi Texas, Monterey peninsula and Ventura California, Hawaii and Costa Rica. Now we are settled in Brevard County and Picnic tables is one of my fav spots. It seems to be breaking again after a long time of it being just shore pound with close outs. Oclub has been breaking really nice again as well. I like oclub.

I had tissue expanders placed during my mastectomy and had the "exchange" 2 months later. The tissue expanders were very uncomfortable-I hated them. Of course the drs. didn't say a thing about that part. Looking back there was allot of stuff the drs. didn't address, especially the PS. He is a surfer here in the area and he swore to me that I would be able to surf again after my recovery. Well at least he got that part right.

I usually don't go down to Lori Wilson, or the Cocoa beach pier either, too crowded. I've surfed the streets many times though. If you ever come up this way again, drop me a line and maybe we can meet for a morning session. My email is gesten@cfl.rr.com And my name is Linda

Oh and by the way, I work abs all the time, I never neglect them as they are so important. Usually on leg day I do abs and do about 12 sets total of upper and lowers. I always had great abs until they became covered with FAT from anastrazole. I am with you, I don't get it about the estrogen/fat thing.

Take care Surfette, Linda

Hi Ladies,

I am neither a surfer nor an athlete, but I am active. I had a bmx with one step implants. I don't recall time frames, but I know that I can do everything I always did. This didn't happen immediately, of course, and I had a frozen shoulder and some cording. But , all is well now. I will say that laying flat on my stomach with pressure on my chest is odd, implants don't flatten down like real breast tissue, but I'm used to it now.

Surfette,

Whether you have bc, another disease or an accident, life may take from you what you value the most. Yes, a surfer is "who you are", but I suspect that you are much more than that. Regardless of what happens to you because of bc, you can find a way to make your life rich and fulfilling. Wishing you the best

Surfette,

This may be small comfort, but even those who have had mastectomies worry about recurrence

I will send pix WHEN ( not if!) I am back on the board! Thanks for the positive thoughts!

I thought I would post an update here for those who may be wondering about the surfing. I am full on back on the board and surfing after the double mastectomy. 51 years old and still strong. It's not the same in some ways, but it really has not affected my skills. The part that I've needed to get used to is the fact that the implants are sub muscular. My plastic surgeon and many others have said that building up the pecs can affect the implants. When I surf I do find that my (rather firm!) implants do tend to flatten out a bit. It looks a little odd temporarily but they migrate back into position after several hours. It's not optimal when you spend a lot of time in a bikini but let's face it - I am very happy to be wearing a bikini and I am thrilled to be surfing. I can feel the firm implants pushing into the board (and my bed!) but it is something I've gotten used to. I count my blessings and want to let ladies know you will be able to surf again in this situation! A true gift. Also, for me function is more important than appearance but Dr. Bucky and team did create a beautiful result.

Thank you so much for posting this question! I am a heavy boogie boarder and I love to surf, at the age of 52. I love the water so much that this has really been an issue for me. Another issue related to this thread would be the issue of bathing suits! I have had one breast have problems in healing from the mastectomy plus I have this burning pain around the area of the mastectomy that I have considered staying flat. The pain is so bad that I run around topless at home. The problem that I am finding is that bathing suits - tankinis for me - all have these built in bras. Is there a bathing suit maker that makes cute bathing suits without the built in bras that will not irritate my breast area while accommodating my active exercise in water?

I am new to the group and looked up surfing after mastectomy. My right breast mastectomy is scheduled for Oct 22, 2018. The plastic surgeon is planning on putting the implant in at the same time. He said he is putting it on top of the muscle. I am wondering if it makes a difference surfing (since my pec muscles are fairly big) whether it is on top or behind the muscle? I am 59 but still surf almost everyday. I am really going to miss it while I heal. I just hope I can get back to it after

Hawaiisurfer, you're fortunate to have your implant placed over your pec muscle - that should really help!

I had a tissue expander under my pec. After it was placed I lost strength due to part of the pec being cut, and I also had the animation deformity thing. You can hopefully avoid both those problems.

Best wishes and let us know how it goes!

Hi Hawaiisurfer,

Great to hear you are out in the water as much as possible now. Staying strong going into surgery is clutch! I am a 57 year old surfer and had pre pectoral implants done after a double mastectomy for bilateral breast cancer. After a breast biopsy about 4 years ago, before my diagnosis, I had severe bleeding where they had to press down on my chest very hard for a long time. This life saving technique worked but separated my cartilage creating a lot of pain, and after that I thought I would be knee boarding and body surfing only. Now 4 years later, and 1 year post full reconstruction I can surf. It isn't super comfortable on hard board, but I can do it. The issue for me was not so much the chest on the board but the movement in my shoulders. I am not sure if you will have lymph nodes removed or not since I can't see your stats, but this was the big issue for me. I ended up getting frozen shoulder(s) after my reconstruction, even though I stretched and did yoga daily. I saw a PT for close to a year to get movement back. I started out in the pool doing some weird movement with my arms and slowly worked up to swimming the crawl. I have taken to riding an old school Greenough mat, which I love (even though body surfing is my favorite). Faster than a board, uses mainly my strong legs, and some arm movement and a totally soft and fluffy chest ride . I can also kayak again, and I was a long distance ocean kayaker. I did get some truncal lymphadema, which has been no fun, but even that feels less scary and strange after time. Stretch, stretch, stretch, according to your plastic surgeon's recommendations. I use a foam roller to open my chest and back daily and it helps a lot too.

On a soul note, surfing and its metaphors got me through my treatment. Keeping my eyes open and smiling in the impact zone of treatment was a major benefit. Knowing that the sizes and sets and temperatures would always change kept me hopeful and looking at the horizon. Breathing and dropping in on the big, scary treatment times from chemo to surgery helped me in ways I can't begin to describe. May it be so for you.

Sending waves of hope and joy!

Thank you couragement! I sent you a PM also.