Forum Discussion

Rose1988's avatar
Rose1988
Member
24 days ago

Heavy lifting after surgery

Hi all Im 17 days post bilateral mastectomy and recon. I have a 3 yr old and a 1 year old. My husband is doing all the lifting etc but today I forgot myself and picked up my 3 year old. I instantly ...
coping
post surgery
young women
Mez_BCNA's avatar
Mez_BCNA
Community Manager
23 days ago

Hi Rose1988​ Thankyou for creating the conversation and hope you are recovering well from your surgery. While we wait for others to share their tips and experience, we wanted to share BCNA resources that related to surgery recovery.

Here’s a summary of the key points from BCNA’s “Strengthen Your Recovery” Pilates Program for people recovering from breast cancer surgery:

🔗 View the full program on BCNA’s website

Program Overview

  • A gentle, progressive Pilates-based exercise program designed to support recovery after breast cancer surgery.
  • Created by Fiona Eakin, a breast cancer survivor and qualified Pilates instructor.
  • Structured in four sessions, aligned with different stages of healing (from immediately post-surgery to 10+ weeks after).

Important Safety Notes

  • Avoid heavy lifting (over 0.5–1 kg) with the affected arm for 6–8 weeks.
  • Do not use weights until cleared by your treating team and you have full, pain-free shoulder movement.
  • Start with 250g weights, and only increase if advised by a health professional.
  • Always consult your care team before starting or progressing in the program.

Professional Guidance

  • The program is not a substitute for medical advice.
  • Seek input from your oncologist, surgeon, physiotherapist, or exercise physiologist.
  • Modify or pause exercises during radiotherapy or chemotherapy if needed.

 

Hope the above information is useful and please feel free to reach out to our Helpline 1800 500 258