subject: Resistance exercise gets thumbs up after breast cancer [print this page] Resistance exercise gets thumbs up after breast cancer
New research shows that resistance exercise might be a good thing for breast cancer surgery survivors. While, according to doctors, the research does not mean breast cancer surgery survivors should perform unsupervised resistance exercise, a properly developed program by their doctor or a referring physical therapist is something to consider.
Historically after breast cancer surgery women were told to avoid lifting heavy objects because of the increased risk of arm swelling known medically as lymphedema. This is because many women during surgery have several lymph nodes removed and in some women a buildup of fluid in the area can occur. Doctors thought that this was due to lifting heavy objects, but the new research done in San Antonio Texas, shows that this is not the case.
In the research study over 70 breast cancer survivors were given a structured resistance-training program and were monitored for one full year. A second group of similar size was given an exercise program that did not include resistance exercise. Among the women that did resistance exercise over the one-year time frame only 11% of them developed lymphedema compared to 17% that did not do resistance exercise.
Among women that had large numbers of lymph nodes removed (five or more) the results were even more dramatic with only 7% having arm swelling while 22% of the non-weightlifting women did develop enough arm swelling to be diagnosed with lymphedema.
According to Dr. Alphonse Taghian at Mass General in the Boston area this research will not only have a tremendous impact on how doctors counsel breast cancer survivors, but will likely have an enormous impact on the quality of life for women who have breast cancer surgery because they now will be less timid in using their arms for fear of swelling. And that according to Dr. Taghian, is an enormous mental boost of confidence and improvement in the quality of life for women to be active and able to lift their kids or grandkids after surgery, perform daily tasks without fear, because cancer is such a difficult and devastating disease.
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