The Effect Of Intense Exercise After Breast Cancer Surgery

According to SAEDNEWS, citing MedicineNet, Dr. Colin Champ, an associate professor at Allegheny Health Network in Wexford, Pennsylvania and a strength and conditioning specialist, said: “Traditional guidelines raise the question of when women undergoing breast cancer treatment can start exercising and how much weight they can safely lift, especially in patients who have undergone mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, which are more extensive surgeries.”

However, new research suggests that these guidelines may be overly cautious.

In this study, nearly 200 recent breast cancer survivors completed a three-month high-intensity resistance training program. All of them had undergone lumpectomy, mastectomy, or lymph node removal.

Results: Participants improved their strength, mobility, balance, and muscle mass, and were able to return more quickly to daily activities.

Within a few weeks, many participants were lifting 45 kg weights. By the end of the program, some reached 90 kg.

Improvements were consistent across all types of surgery, even among those who had more extensive procedures.

Champ said: “We believe the benefits of high-level exercise and resistance training, and the ability of breast cancer survivors to perform well, should not be underestimated.”

He added that researchers strongly believe that “exercise should not only be part of life, but should be part of the standard of care.”