|
| General Info
|
|
|
| |
 Many breast cancer survivors experience limited shoulder range of motion and weakness after surgery. We are at a higher risk of lymphedema and osteoporosis. Young women with breast cancer are often thrown into premature menopause, experiencing severe symptoms like hot flashes, sleeplessness, and fuzzy thinking. And we often experience weight gain as a result of some of our treatments, not only gaining fat, but also losing lean body mass. This is of particular importance to us since excess weight may increase our risk of cancer recurrence.
As with other cancers, exercise can improve both physical and psychological function. Exercise may alleviate many of the side effects of treatment: fatigue, nausea, problems sleeping. Survivors often feel a greater sense of control and well-being.
I was determined to regain my full range of motion and strength, determined to return to all my pre-cancer activities. I did all the exercises I was given to help regain mobility…and then some. As each movement got easier I would modify it to keep increasing my range of motion. When I was getting comfortable with the wall crawl to the front, I started turning my body a little away from the wall to increase the stretch. Eventually my body was perpendicular to the wall and I was crawling my arm up to the side.
Once I had good range of motion, I started turning those same movements into strength-building exercises. The wall crawl turned into straight-arm raises to strengthen the muscles of my upper back and shoulders. Using no weights, only the weight of my arm (which was plenty of work for me after my surgery), I would raise my arms to shoulder-height and lower them, keeping my arms straight with palms facing down. I would do this to the front, then in a V with arms at about a 450 angle from center, and also out to the side. The movements were always slow and smooth. As I got stronger, I kept the movements the same and added a little weight. I started with water bottles because I could vary how much water, and therefore how much weight I was lifting.
You have every reason to expect to regain all your mobility. It just takes determination and time. For more information visit my blog.
|
|
Compelling data exist, however, on the benefits of physical activity for the primary prevention of breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and overall mortality rate. It is reasonable to assume that such relations also hold for breast cancer survivors. - CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, “Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: an American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices”, CA Cancer J Clin, 2003;53, p.283. or view online version at http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/53/5/268 |
| |
| Note: It is important to talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. |
|
|
|
© Copyright 2008 www.life-cise.com All Rights Reserved
Designed by Launchsightsolutions.com |
|
