Exercise and Cancer Management: Safe Exercise
Exercise
has numerous advantages for patients with breast cancer, but it's crucial to
exercise carefully.
For
those who have undergone treatment for breast cancer, some workouts, such as:
· Lap
swimming Heavy arm and shoulder work may not be an issue for some people, but
it may be for others. If you enjoy swimming a lot, you might want to try
swimming laps with your arms supported by a kickboard or another floating
object.
· Resistance
band use. You can't tell how much resistance is being produced when you pull on
a resistance band. To make sure it isn't too strenuous for you, start with the
lightest resistance band.
· Exercising
with your own body weight, such as push-ups and pull-ups. It might be
challenging to gauge how much weight you are shifting because doing so could
strain your arms and shoulders. Working with a trainer to determine whether and
how to adapt these exercises is a smart idea.
· Doing
yoga positions like downward dog and inversions. The weight of these stances
can be too much for the arms. There are yoga instructors who have received
specialised training in working with clients who have had breast cancer
treatment. They can offer alternate positions and progressions for downward dogs
and inversions.
· Playing
tennis, cross-country skiing, and using elliptical and cross-training devices.
You may wish to exercise your arm on the side of your surgical arm with caution
if you're starting a new workout regimen not long after breast cancer surgery.
For instance, you might want to wait until your arm is stronger before
utilising a cross-training machine, playing tennis, or engaging in any other
activity that exercises your arm at the same time if you begin an exercise
programme intended expressly for breast cancer survivors. You might be able to
progressively include other activities that work out the arms if you've been
following the exercise regimen for about a month.
Inactivity
and lymphedema
After
having breast cancer surgery, you may be more susceptible to developing
lymphedema, which is an enlargement of the soft tissues in the arm, hand,
trunk, or breast that can also result in numbness, discomfort, and occasionally
infection.
Some
people, including medical professionals, worry that strength training, namely
lifting weights, can cause lymphedema. However, other people, including medical
professionals, believe that the advantages of exercise, especially weight
lifting, when done appropriately and carefully exceed the risks.
The
PAL experiment examined the advantages of weight lifting for survivors and
discovered that very modest weights at first, followed by gradually greater
weights, may be preferable to not exercising a breast cancer-affected arm at
risk for lymphedema. According to the results of the PAL experiment, women who
adhered to the weight lifting regimen were stronger, had a better perception of
their bodies, and had less body fat. Additionally, women who adhered to the
weightlifting programme and had lymphedema at the beginning of the PAL trial
had a 50% lower risk of the condition getting worse.
Exercise
safety measures you can take
Obtain
the go-ahead from your surgeon and primary care physician. It's crucial to talk
to both your primary care physician and your breast surgeon about the workouts
you intend to perform. Ask them if there are any motions you should refrain
from performing or if the range of motion they require should be reduced. It's
an excellent idea to talk about:
· to
see if any of the medications you're taking could interfere with your ability
to exercise.
· any
additional medical conditions you may have, such as osteoporosis or asthma, to
determine if they could interfere with your ability to exercise.
Take
any essential safety measures. Speak with a lymphedema
specialist about any measures you should think about taking if you have
lymphedema or if you are extremely concerned about getting it. Wearing
protective gloves or a well-fitting compression garment are two possible
safeguards. Stop immediately and consult your doctor or a lymphedema expert if
something doesn't feel right. To find out about their suggested precautions,
you may also read the National Lymphedema Network's Position Paper on Exercise.
Make
sure to warm up. It's vital to warm up by walking for five
to ten minutes before engaging in any form of exercise. When you warm up, it's
a good idea to incorporate a comprehensive flexibility routine so you can
stretch all the key muscle groups.
Make
sure to move forward gradually. Expect a slow
improvement. Every person, every case of breast cancer, and every treatment
strategy are unique. Never compare your achievements to those of others or to
your capabilities prior to receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. Give yourself
the space you require to recuperate and develop your strength, flexibility, and
health.
Put
form first. Better than holding a stretch longer or
performing more repetitions of an exercise is the perfect technique. Even if it
means performing less, the form should be impeccable. It is therefore
preferable to hold a stretch for 15 seconds with excellent form rather than for
30 seconds with the poor form if you can only hold it for 15 seconds without
bending your knees or arm in an unnatural way.
If
pain strikes, stop. If you have pain, adjust your form or make
your motions smaller. If it still hurts, you might need to discuss changes with
your physician, physical therapist, or professional personal trainer.
As
needed, take a nap. Take a day off if you have a cold, an
infection, or are really weary.
Make
sure to cool down. After every workout, it's crucial to
stretch out all the major muscle groups and cool down by walking for five to
ten minutes.
Inform
your instructor that you have received breast cancer treatment.
No matter what kind of exercise you undertake, it's crucial to inform the
trainer or certified personal trainer that you've had breast cancer treatment.
If necessary, the teacher or personal trainer can demonstrate how to scale back
any workouts or specific motions.