Needing advice about gym

[Becky]

Go to the gym and work out. Just be very careful about your affected arm side and go slowllllyyyy. The new way of thinking is to lift weights but do so caringly and slowly on that side. Light weights, not as many repetitions and work up to it. Same with the swimming - avoid excessive fatigue but do it and work up to it. It is good for that arm. I do lots of calistinics and light weights (only one or two time per week because it is my cross-training exercise as I am a runner and do the others for something different). But even with running (I was before but chemo killed my energy, taxol killed my legs and Herceptin took my breath away but finally, I am well at it again. I started walking for almost 2 years before I got back into it and you even have to be careful with your arm in walking or running as the swinging arm can force fluid into the hand).


Its always something. The biggest thing to watch (in my opinion) is injury - especially a wound (puncture wounds are the worst) and always carry Neosporin and a bandaide around with you. If it gets real red, get an antibiotic from your doctor.

[Linda]

I had a lumpectomy with full ax dissection and intense rads (including super clavs), so probably pretty similar treatment impact. I've always worked out, although during treatment I only walked. But then I started back slowly with the gym, after rads were done. I didn't use anything heavier than 5 pounds for my upper body for a few months, but gradually worked up and now I am pretty much back at my old workout, which is pretty intense.
My surgeon, who is one the top breast surgeons in the US, said the only thing to avoid was heavy weight resting on my shoulder (I don't do squats, for instance, or anything where the barbell is resting on my shoulders.) He also said not to carry a shoulder bag on the surgery side. His theorey is that the lymph reroutes. All I know, is I've been able to get back into shape, do whatever I want and have no problems with my arm. Good luck.
Linda

[Caroline UK]

Becky, what is Neosporin? I'm in the UK, and I'm imagining it's an antibiotic, but is it in cream form or tablets? That's a good suggestion, anyway, and I'll be putting Band-Aids in every bag from now on.
Jill's husband CPA, I think I'll get some proper professional advice from a physio, that's another good suggestion.
And Linda, I hadn't even thought about the bag thing. I always carry my bag across my body, too, but luckily across the unaffected side, by chance, but that's well worth knowing and remembering.
Thank you all!
Caroline

[juanita]

Neosporin is an antibiotic cream. I feel like I should own the company with as much of it as I went throough when my son was younger.