Morning, I am newly diagnosed on Tuesday , saw the Surgeon on Thursday now waiting for the date of the op for my mastectomy. After processing this all weekend, just wondering if anyone can help with these questions. I am a keen SUP and surfer, I fear I will be unbalanced. Is this a thing? I fear having more operations and not being bale to get out on the water, I fear the reaction of chemo on my body. My surgeon only suggested removing the breast with the lumps in it, I also have suspect lymph nodes and he said he will know more once the operation is underway. He said I can remove the other which is also an option, as my other fear is getting in that side as well.I am wondering if anyone can share there experience of surfing / supping and have you used a prosthesis, do you feel unbalanced if you don't? Did you get a reconstruction because of this?Being out in the water has been my sanity in the last three years as I have been going through a separation and now a divorce, so continuing being on the water is high up there for my mental health.Thanks for taking the time to read and reply

Thanks so much for that Sister, great to hear from someone who likes the water, weird things you worry about.I am a D Cup, so not sure what the difference would be, but again thanks for the sharing of information.Exercise and physio will be high on my list so I can get back to my sanity

Hi @ShellSurfing if you have Radiotherapy day be aware you will need to careful with UV for some months after it ends as it seems to activate the radiated breast. We went to Cairns 4 weeks afterwards and I lived in a rashie plus I had to be careful about how prolonged time in sun.

That's a point - not sure where you live @ShellSurfing but you may want to invest in a long-sleeved rashie if you don't already have one. Target did have them for about $25, I think. The last thing you want is to get your arm sunburnt on your affected side.

Being unbalanced can be a 'thing' particularly if you are big breasted. Like every other 'thing' with BC, it is not possible to figure out how badly, or not, you will be affected until you have leapt into the unknown. Same with chemo, radiotherapy, hormone treatment etc etbloodycetera. Completely impossible to predict where you will fall on the scale of ' Everybody is different.'I've had a double mastectomy and, though I had issues with my reconstructions, I was not that badly affected when it came to strength and range of movement. Yes, it took a while to get over it, but it is possible. I'd expect it would be the same with the missing boob, if you are reasonably determined you will be able to train your body to adjust.Just do what you can when you can. Worry about the rest later, though if you are a public patient considering reconstruction it would be wise to plan to get started with that when you have your mastectomy. Depending where you live, the wait times for recon can be brutal if you don't do it at the same time.

Hi @ShellSurfing Welcome to the forum. I was diagnosed at the beginning of December, had a partial before Christmas and then back for a mastectomy after New Year. I love the beach and the water and was really angry about missing Summer as I couldn't get back in the water until the all-clear from the surgeon, which didn't come until a few weeks ago. Although I don't get to do it as much as I like, I also love SUPing and kayaking. I haven't had a chance to get on a SUP since surgery but I was kayaking over Easter - just gentle water because I'm still getting my strength back on the affected side and I had to work out how to get on the kayak the first time, which must have looked hilarious to anyone watching. I don't know how large you are (I'm a C-cup) but I haven't noticed any problem with being unbalanced. I do have both an everyday silicon prosthesis which I only wear if I have to (I find bras very uncomfortable now due to the nerve damage under the arm), and a silicon swimming prosthesis. The biggest thing with mobility is making sure that you do the exercises and follow up as soon as possible if you have any cording issues. I waited a bit too long for that but after only one laser therapy treatment, I noticed an immediate improvement. The other benefit with a specialist physio or exercise physiologist is that you should get an exercise program to strengthen the side of the mastectomy. Apparently, this is important for not developing lymphoedema, as is warming up. I can well understand the sense of freedom and peace that being on the water can give you and you will get back out there as soon as you are healed. You will find out more about the type and extent of your cancer with the path report after surgery. I can understand you thinking about taking the other breast off to avoid worrying about it but in my limited experience, you don't need to for balance - again, I'm speaking as someone who is not large-breasted.You will find lots of information and support on this site as well as a few laughs.

Newbie with Questions about Surfing/Water

Sister
Member
7 years ago
Hi @ShellSurfing Welcome to the forum. I was diagnosed at the beginning of December, had a partial before Christmas and then back for a mastectomy after New Year. I love the beach and the water and was really angry about missing Summer as I couldn't get back in the water until the all-clear from the surgeon, which didn't come until a few weeks ago. Although I don't get to do it as much as I like, I also love SUPing and kayaking. I haven't had a chance to get on a SUP since surgery but I was kayaking over Easter - just gentle water because I'm still getting my strength back on the affected side and I had to work out how to get on the kayak the first time, which must have looked hilarious to anyone watching. I don't know how large you are (I'm a C-cup) but I haven't noticed any problem with being unbalanced. I do have both an everyday silicon prosthesis which I only wear if I have to (I find bras very uncomfortable now due to the nerve damage under the arm), and a silicon swimming prosthesis. The biggest thing with mobility is making sure that you do the exercises and follow up as soon as possible if you have any cording issues. I waited a bit too long for that but after only one laser therapy treatment, I noticed an immediate improvement. The other benefit with a specialist physio or exercise physiologist is that you should get an exercise program to strengthen the side of the mastectomy. Apparently, this is important for not developing lymphoedema, as is warming up. I can well understand the sense of freedom and peace that being on the water can give you and you will get back out there as soon as you are healed.

You will find out more about the type and extent of your cancer with the path report after surgery. I can understand you thinking about taking the other breast off to avoid worrying about it but in my limited experience, you don't need to for balance - again, I'm speaking as someone who is not large-breasted.

You will find lots of information and support on this site as well as a few laughs.
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
@arpie @sister You may be able to help here?

I'm not a water baby but sending you hugs. I reckon you'll be right though. Remember that young woman who had her arm bitten off by a shark? She kept surfing, and well. Our bodies are remarkably resilient and adaptable. Breathe, and hang in there. K xox

Forum Discussion

Newbie with Questions about Surfing/Water

Related Content

Newbie

Newbie

Newbie and a question re liver issues.

The most newbie question ever?

Heart Question?

Recent Discussions

Triple Positive HER2+

Alone in Melbourne newly diagnosed

Here we go again...

Newly Diagnosed with an early stage right breast cancer. Need your support and experience please

Newly diagnosed

Disclaimer:

Foundation partner	Major partners