How realistic is Weight Training /Strength exercises after Surgery and during Chemo?

I wouldn't be doing any power lifting until the physio clears you. Especially since you have already had some complications.  Frustrating I know. Plenty of cardio you can do in the meantime if you feel well enough.

Cording is a tightness under the armpit and can run down to the elbow.  It is scar tissue.  Stretching is the best thing to prevent or improve it. If it becomes really tight see a physio experienced in this. Exercise and  Laser can help. You can see it, but sometimes just feel it.

hi everyone just a brief update: 

i had surgery last wed and developed a hematoma... had to be rushed back to theatre the next day and basically got re-operated on... the event and various other events with nurses triggered my complex ptsd and well... i ended up staying in hospital for 5 days. i had a wide local exision and they took out a good small bowl worth of lesion and margins plus 2 nodes. they are all clear! so next i wait to see if i am brca1... i developed lymphodema in my breast which is still bruised and i have to ice it because it burns!

i was told by the physio as soon as i wake up from the first surgery to start moving my arm and do the exercises prescribed. so i did. and after the hematoma removal, i was told to get up and exercise once an hour to get any remaining tissue and blood clots out of my system into the drain bag. and so i did. i moved and the first couple of days i was only moving about 5 - 10mins at a time, within 2 days after hematoma i was doing some light half squats, leg raises and walking and lunging up and down the ward. 

a day after being discharged from hospital on monday i walked to and from the post office which was only half an hour in total but felt like much more. i was so tired... but now it is saturday, a week and 2 days after 2 surgeries and i can walk for at least 30 - 40mins a day while doing my weird salutes. my boyfriend joined the gym so to help me tomorrow to get back into things. the physio did not come see me before i got discharged so i will see them again next week. but i think after the drain tube was removed a week post surgery i was far more comfortable and moving around much better. and energy is still very low especially with lupus fatigue but tomorrow i want to get on to some very gentle eliptical exercise and try some light light weights with my arms plus try a few reps with my legs and just play by ear.... i will report how i go just incase if it helps anyone... 

please please share any experience you have had with exercise post surgery. what was it like for you and what could you manage 1 week after? 2 weeks? 3? 

i do believe that my powerlifting background and getting fit for at least 6 months before diagnosis helped me recover but i still have systemic lupus, breast cancer... so i will draw on my life time of experience working around fatigue and pain (was diagnosed with lupus at age 17)... for now signing off and thank you for all your comments and well wishes. xoxoxooxoxoxo <3

hi Anne, i think its really good advice and i just walked alot this past week... well... as much as i can anyway which is no more than about 20mins at a time... but i had a wide local exision so its not quite as complicated healing perhaps as a masectomy... can you please tell me about cording? how do i know i have it? i have lost feeling to my underarm and the armpit... they told me the feeling will return... but in the meanwhile something in my armpit felt so so so tight the past few days and is released by stretching and movement... i saw a youtube and the lady who had cording you can see it in her arm like a rope... but i can't see anything like that... anyway thanks so much for your comment xoxoxoxoox

swimming and light cardio sounds perfect and very healing. and wow 10 days sounds like so much time to be wiped out... :/   they want to start my chemo after only 3 weeks post surgery i think its too soon but yeah we will see... plus i have ivf... so its a bit overwhelming atm... xooxoox

ha what an awsome thing to have perky new boobs! :)  i guess i only had a wide local excision so maybe its a little diff... thank you for your advise.... i did try to take it easy but the exercises prescribed helped me and ive been a bit up and down this past week... but healing well i think. xoxoxoxo

thanks michelle xoxoxo

Hi, I would think you need to be a bit careful about rushing back into weight-bearing exercise. And perhaps moderate expectations of when you'll be able to get back into your previous exercise regime. After you have gone through surgery, you should consult with a physio or therapist who has experience in dealing with post-surgery patients. The reason I suggest being cautious is cause I have re-opened wounds from doing too much after surgery. I've had my post-mastectomy wound stitched up 3 times and its now set back physical recovery a bit. I've been advised to not do anything too strenuous for 6 months.

I had a physio visit me in hospital and provide exercises to do - which have been gentle stretches and building up some strength in arms etc. 

I also had cording after my surgery which also affected my ability to do strenuous exercise with my arm.

So walking, walking and more walking has been the best thing - while being patient and letting the body heal. And then of course you may also find lower energy levels due to chemo.

Sorry if that's a bit negative but I think just be prepared that your body will need more time to heal after surgery and you should be prepared to not push yourself too hard. 

Cheers, Anne

I had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction and didn't  really feel pain free enough until 6 weeks...by then I started chemo....AC...which wiped me out for 10 days. However I then felt fab and have done some light swimming and started cardio again with machine weights...only needing to drop weight noticibly on up pushing ones. However....chemo 2 has wiped me again, but look forward to doing what I can as soon as feel I can...which was daily. Every one is different and I am hoping that they will keep fiddling medication which may result in shorter times feeling unwell.

Hi Humblevoice, Good luck for your surgery.  I had my chemo before my surgery (double mastectomy and lymph node clearance). During chemo I felt tired and sick but unless I absolutely felt too bad, I used to try and walk each day so I actually built up a bit of fitness over time.  After the mastectomies I followed the guidelines of physio and breast surgeon and did all the exercises they told me. Before I got the all clear from my surgeon after about six weeks to go to the gym, I did gentle yoga and listened to my body. After six weeks I was able to do any exercises I liked.  Exercising made me feel fitter and happier.  I didn't push myself too much though.  

I started treatment on 1st april 2015 so almost a year ago now and I'm back at work and doing well. Getting used to the arimidex and hot flushes and really like my perky new boobs which look better than the old "breast-fed four kids" ones. Finally got my nipples put on 3 weeks ago too. 

Best wishes for treatment.

Hi Liz,

All the best with your surgery on Wednesday.  Let us know hoe you go.

So far as weight-lifting is concerned, I would be guided by the physio after surgery - she would be the best person to advise you when and how much.  You don't want to risk complications afterwards.

Thinking of you on Wednesday.   Michelle x