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DeborahAxelrodMD
(Physician
- Surgery - Breast
(Verified)
)
| Communities: Breast Cancer | Thank You's: 2 |
| Member Since: Feb. 2012 | Questions: 0 |
| Answers: 8 |
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Professional Statement
Deborah Axelrod, M.D. is Director of Clinical Breast Programs and Services and Medical Director of Community Cancer Education and Outreach at NYU Clinical Cancer Center in New York City and a board certified surgeon who specializes in breast diseases and breast cancer. She is Associate Professor of Surgery at New York University School of Medicine.
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Axelrod completed a surgical oncology research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She is widely published in her field and has been in practice since 1988.
Dr. Axelrod is a prominent speaker throughout the country, presenting to both lay and professional audiences information on survivorship, new developments in risk-reduction measures, detection and treatment of breast cancer. She is on the editorial board of http://plwc.org (people living with cancer), as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Under the leadership of Dr. Axelrod, monthly programs for the community (Insights In Context ™) are offered throughout the year emphasizing diagnosis, treatment and risk reduction of cancer in women and men. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU, Dr. Axelrod was Chief of the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Vincents Hospital and Medical Center in New York City (1999-2004). She initiated the Community Lecture Series program which is successfully into its eighth year offering lectures and resources to the community. Dr. Axelrod was instrumental in initiating the Artist in Residence Program offering art therapy to all patients under treatment for cancer. This program is in collaboration with the Creative Center for Women With Cancer which also continues a long relationship at NYU Medical Center and now at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center. From 1988 to 1999, Dr. Axelrod was Physician – in – Charge of the Louis Venet MD Comprehensive Breast Service at Beth Israel Hospital and Medical Center in New York City.
She co-authored the book Bosom Buddies: Lessons and Laughter about Breast Health and Cancer with Rosie O’Donnell and Tracy Chuterian-Semler, that uses humor to help cope with breast cancer. ALL proceeds for the book were donated to various non-profit breast cancer organizations to help fund ongoing outreach, support, education and research programs.
Always at the forefront of patient advocacy, Dr. Axelrod is active nationally and in the community- dedicated to educating the public about breast cancer and the need to take an active role in one’s own health care. She is on the Board of Directors at SHARE (Self-Help Group for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer) in New York City and Cancer 101, offering organizational resources to men and women diagnosed with cancer. She has been appointed to the Medical Resource Council at Gilda’s Club in New York City (a cancer support community for people with cancer and their families) and Health Advisory Board at Hadassah and Medical Advisory Board at the Young Survival Coalition, Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA) and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, North Jersey Affiliate and New York Affiliate.
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Axelrod completed a surgical oncology research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She is widely published in her field and has been in practice since 1988.
Dr. Axelrod is a prominent speaker throughout the country, presenting to both lay and professional audiences information on survivorship, new developments in risk-reduction measures, detection and treatment of breast cancer. She is on the editorial board of http://plwc.org (people living with cancer), as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Under the leadership of Dr. Axelrod, monthly programs for the community (Insights In Context ™) are offered throughout the year emphasizing diagnosis, treatment and risk reduction of cancer in women and men. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU, Dr. Axelrod was Chief of the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Vincents Hospital and Medical Center in New York City (1999-2004). She initiated the Community Lecture Series program which is successfully into its eighth year offering lectures and resources to the community. Dr. Axelrod was instrumental in initiating the Artist in Residence Program offering art therapy to all patients under treatment for cancer. This program is in collaboration with the Creative Center for Women With Cancer which also continues a long relationship at NYU Medical Center and now at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center. From 1988 to 1999, Dr. Axelrod was Physician – in – Charge of the Louis Venet MD Comprehensive Breast Service at Beth Israel Hospital and Medical Center in New York City.
She co-authored the book Bosom Buddies: Lessons and Laughter about Breast Health and Cancer with Rosie O’Donnell and Tracy Chuterian-Semler, that uses humor to help cope with breast cancer. ALL proceeds for the book were donated to various non-profit breast cancer organizations to help fund ongoing outreach, support, education and research programs.
Always at the forefront of patient advocacy, Dr. Axelrod is active nationally and in the community- dedicated to educating the public about breast cancer and the need to take an active role in one’s own health care. She is on the Board of Directors at SHARE (Self-Help Group for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer) in New York City and Cancer 101, offering organizational resources to men and women diagnosed with cancer. She has been appointed to the Medical Resource Council at Gilda’s Club in New York City (a cancer support community for people with cancer and their families) and Health Advisory Board at Hadassah and Medical Advisory Board at the Young Survival Coalition, Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA) and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, North Jersey Affiliate and New York Affiliate.
Professional Info
Credential:
MD
Primary specialty:
Surgery - Breast
Secondary specialty:
Surgery - Surgical Oncology
Medical school:
Tel-Aviv University, The Sackler School of Medicine
Residency:
Beth Israel Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Internship:
Beth Israel Medical Center
Fellowship:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Board certifications:
Fellow, American Board of Surgery
Awards and publications:
http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/axelrd01/publications
Hospital affiliation:
NYU School of Medicine
Practice address:
160 East 34th Street
New York, NY
10016
Practice phone number:
212-731-5366
Personal Bio (My story)
Deborah Axelrod lives in Summit, New Jersey with her husband Dr. Noel Raskin. Her two sons Max and Ben are both in college. Dr. Axelrod is past Chairperson of the Cultural arts program at her children’s grade school and served on the Board of Directors for Summit Junior Baseball from 2004 through 2006. Deborah enjoys weight lifting, cross country skiiing and hiking and follows the advice she gives her patients - maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
DeborahAxelrodMD Activities
Probably about 5%. With an axillary lymph node dissection it is about 15% or can be even higher.
Probably about 5%. With an axillary lymph node dissection it is about 15% or can be even higher.
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
The sentinel node(s) is the first node that receives drainage from the breast. Knowing the lymph node status is important for staging, just like knowing the tumor size. It helps predict therapy afterwards. Locating the sentinel lymph node(s) does not mean it is cancerous. That is a question that comes up many times. If the sentinel node is negative (no cancer cells are found), then we do not perform a axillary lymph node dissection. That significantly reduces the dreaded complication of lymphedema which becomes a chronic condition if it occurs.
I imagine a future where we do not rely on sentinel nodes to determine further treatment and we rely on the characteristics of the primary tumor (sometimes we can get that from a needle core of tissue and based on that knowledge, upfront systemic therapies may be offered before surgery - something that is on the cutting edge (sorry, no pun intended)).
The sentinel node(s) is the first node that receives drainage from the breast. Knowing the lymph node status is important for staging, just like knowing the tumor size. It helps predict therapy afterwards. Locating the sentinel lymph node(s) does not mean it is cancerous. That is a question that comes up many times. If the sentinel node is negative (no cancer cells are found), then we do not perform a axillary lymph node dissection. That significantly reduces the dreaded complication of lymphedema which becomes a chronic condition if it occurs.
I imagine a future where we do not rely on sentinel nodes to determine further treatment and we rely on the characteristics of the primary tumor (sometimes we can get that from a needle core of tissue and based on that knowledge, upfront systemic therapies may be offered before surgery - something that is on the cutting edge (sorry, no pun intended)).
I imagine a future where we do not rely on sentinel nodes to determine further treatment and we rely on the characteristics of the primary tumor (sometimes we can get that from a needle core of tissue and based on that knowledge, upfront systemic therapies may be offered before surgery - something that is on the cutting edge (sorry, no pun intended)).
The sentinel node(s) is the first node that receives drainage from the breast. Knowing the lymph node status is important for staging, just like knowing the tumor size. It helps predict therapy afterwards. Locating the sentinel lymph node(s) does not mean it is cancerous. That is a question that comes up many times. If the sentinel node is negative (no cancer cells are found), then we do not perform a axillary lymph node dissection. That significantly reduces the dreaded complication of lymphedema which becomes a chronic condition if it occurs.
I imagine a future where we do not rely on sentinel nodes to determine further treatment and we rely on the characteristics of the primary tumor (sometimes we can get that from a needle core of tissue and based on that knowledge, upfront systemic therapies may be offered before surgery - something that is on the cutting edge (sorry, no pun intended)).
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
There are geographic, race and ethnicity variations in breast cancer incidence and survival. For instance, the five-year survival rates for:
• White women is 91 percent
• African American women is 79 percent, lower than that of any other ethnic and racial group in the U.S.
• Hispanic/Latina women is 86 percent
• Asian women is 91 percent
• Pacific Islander women is 86 percent
• American Indian/Alaska Native women is 84 percent
This might be explained by differences in breast cancer screening practices among the groups, stage at diagnosis, biology of the tumor and treatment. For instance, African Americans have a lower incidence of developing breast cancer but the disease seems to be more deadly in this population where the risk of dying of breast cancer is much higher than in the other groups.
While breast cancer survival in the USA has continually improved over the last six decades, the incidence and death rate is rising in developing and undeveloped countries. The US, France and Japan have one of the highest survival rates of breast cancer in the world while Algeria has the lowest.
Please see this blog post for further information on the differences in the incidence of breast cancer and the mortality from the disease.
1 American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010.
2 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011.
3 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2010.
4 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, www.komen.org There are geographic, race and ethnicity variations in breast cancer incidence and survival. For instance, the five-year survival rates for:
• White women is 91 percent
• African American women is 79 percent, lower than that of any other ethnic and racial group in the U.S.
• Hispanic/Latina women is 86 percent
• Asian women is 91 percent
• Pacific Islander women is 86 percent
• American Indian/Alaska Native women is 84 percent
This might be explained by differences in breast cancer screening practices among the groups, stage at diagnosis, biology of the tumor and treatment. For instance, African Americans have a lower incidence of developing breast cancer but the disease seems to be more deadly in this population where the risk of dying of breast cancer is much higher than in the other groups.
While breast cancer survival in the USA has continually improved over the last six decades, the incidence and death rate is rising in developing and undeveloped countries. The US, France and Japan have one of the highest survival rates of breast cancer in the world while Algeria has the lowest.
Please see this blog post for further information on the differences in the incidence of breast cancer and the mortality from the disease.
1 American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010.
2 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011.
3 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2010.
4 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, www.komen.org
• White women is 91 percent
• African American women is 79 percent, lower than that of any other ethnic and racial group in the U.S.
• Hispanic/Latina women is 86 percent
• Asian women is 91 percent
• Pacific Islander women is 86 percent
• American Indian/Alaska Native women is 84 percent
This might be explained by differences in breast cancer screening practices among the groups, stage at diagnosis, biology of the tumor and treatment. For instance, African Americans have a lower incidence of developing breast cancer but the disease seems to be more deadly in this population where the risk of dying of breast cancer is much higher than in the other groups.
While breast cancer survival in the USA has continually improved over the last six decades, the incidence and death rate is rising in developing and undeveloped countries. The US, France and Japan have one of the highest survival rates of breast cancer in the world while Algeria has the lowest.
Please see this blog post for further information on the differences in the incidence of breast cancer and the mortality from the disease.
1 American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010.
2 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011.
3 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2010.
4 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, www.komen.org There are geographic, race and ethnicity variations in breast cancer incidence and survival. For instance, the five-year survival rates for:
• White women is 91 percent
• African American women is 79 percent, lower than that of any other ethnic and racial group in the U.S.
• Hispanic/Latina women is 86 percent
• Asian women is 91 percent
• Pacific Islander women is 86 percent
• American Indian/Alaska Native women is 84 percent
This might be explained by differences in breast cancer screening practices among the groups, stage at diagnosis, biology of the tumor and treatment. For instance, African Americans have a lower incidence of developing breast cancer but the disease seems to be more deadly in this population where the risk of dying of breast cancer is much higher than in the other groups.
While breast cancer survival in the USA has continually improved over the last six decades, the incidence and death rate is rising in developing and undeveloped countries. The US, France and Japan have one of the highest survival rates of breast cancer in the world while Algeria has the lowest.
Please see this blog post for further information on the differences in the incidence of breast cancer and the mortality from the disease.
1 American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010.
2 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011.
3 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2010.
4 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, www.komen.org
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
The risk of recurrence depends on the tumor characteristics (grade, size, biomarkers - estrogen/progesterone, Her 2 oncoprotein, proliferation index such as Ki-67 to name a few) and whether lymph nodes are involved. We get that information from the surgical pathology which we receive several days after surgery.* Sometimes we can profile the tumors genetic characteristics (using tests such as Oncotype Dx™ and Mammaprint™) which give us an idea of the distant recurrence rate which is what counts when we talk about risks of dying from breast cancer.
When we look at survival differences between conserving the breast (lumpectomy/radiation) vs. mastectomy - the overall survival is equivalent. The local recurrence rate however depends on the various factors that have been mentioned, but the margins (borders around the tumor) are also important. We sometimes have to take patients back to surgery to get wider margins and this is called a re-excision. Local recurrences are not common with either procedure, but they can occur. You can also get new cancers in the breast after lumpectomy and cancers that occur after mastectomy occur in the chest wall (usually in the mastectomy scar).
* We use a “y” as a modifier to the existing staging system if you have had neoadjuvant chemo or hormonal therapy (to downsize the cancer). The staging here is usually based on the clinical presentation and the pathologic response after treatment.
The risk of recurrence depends on the tumor characteristics (grade, size, biomarkers - estrogen/progesterone, Her 2 oncoprotein, proliferation index such as Ki-67 to name a few) and whether lymph nodes are involved. We get that information from the surgical pathology which we receive several days after surgery.* Sometimes we can profile the tumors genetic characteristics (using tests such as Oncotype Dx™ and Mammaprint™) which give us an idea of the distant recurrence rate which is what counts when we talk about risks of dying from breast cancer.
When we look at survival differences between conserving the breast (lumpectomy/radiation) vs. mastectomy - the overall survival is equivalent. The local recurrence rate however depends on the various factors that have been mentioned, but the margins (borders around the tumor) are also important. We sometimes have to take patients back to surgery to get wider margins and this is called a re-excision. Local recurrences are not common with either procedure, but they can occur. You can also get new cancers in the breast after lumpectomy and cancers that occur after mastectomy occur in the chest wall (usually in the mastectomy scar).
* We use a “y” as a modifier to the existing staging system if you have had neoadjuvant chemo or hormonal therapy (to downsize the cancer). The staging here is usually based on the clinical presentation and the pathologic response after treatment.
When we look at survival differences between conserving the breast (lumpectomy/radiation) vs. mastectomy - the overall survival is equivalent. The local recurrence rate however depends on the various factors that have been mentioned, but the margins (borders around the tumor) are also important. We sometimes have to take patients back to surgery to get wider margins and this is called a re-excision. Local recurrences are not common with either procedure, but they can occur. You can also get new cancers in the breast after lumpectomy and cancers that occur after mastectomy occur in the chest wall (usually in the mastectomy scar).
* We use a “y” as a modifier to the existing staging system if you have had neoadjuvant chemo or hormonal therapy (to downsize the cancer). The staging here is usually based on the clinical presentation and the pathologic response after treatment.
The risk of recurrence depends on the tumor characteristics (grade, size, biomarkers - estrogen/progesterone, Her 2 oncoprotein, proliferation index such as Ki-67 to name a few) and whether lymph nodes are involved. We get that information from the surgical pathology which we receive several days after surgery.* Sometimes we can profile the tumors genetic characteristics (using tests such as Oncotype Dx™ and Mammaprint™) which give us an idea of the distant recurrence rate which is what counts when we talk about risks of dying from breast cancer.
When we look at survival differences between conserving the breast (lumpectomy/radiation) vs. mastectomy - the overall survival is equivalent. The local recurrence rate however depends on the various factors that have been mentioned, but the margins (borders around the tumor) are also important. We sometimes have to take patients back to surgery to get wider margins and this is called a re-excision. Local recurrences are not common with either procedure, but they can occur. You can also get new cancers in the breast after lumpectomy and cancers that occur after mastectomy occur in the chest wall (usually in the mastectomy scar).
* We use a “y” as a modifier to the existing staging system if you have had neoadjuvant chemo or hormonal therapy (to downsize the cancer). The staging here is usually based on the clinical presentation and the pathologic response after treatment.
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
You will always know you had surgery no matter how nice the breast looks. The changes you can expect are numbness (because you're cutting across skin nerves. Usually just local and most never complain about it), skin thickening from radiation, may be some discrepancy in breast size and the breast can feel heavy and the scar tissue can feel firm. Mild increased skin pigmentation after radiation can last many weeks, sometimes months. You will need to get to know this new normal but remember scar tissue is evolving and the fluid gets reabsorbed and it may take some time to get to that new baseline.
Breast conserving therapy is recommended if we can achieve a pleasing cosmetic result. Ninety percent of patients are happy with their results. We do not usually have reconstruction after breast conserving (lumpectomy) surgery. Sometimes we use 'oncoplastic' techniques to get a better result while n the operating room - planning incisions carefully and moving tissue from the chest wall to gain some laxity of the breast tissue to reduce risk of nipples going north south east and west. When considering what your expectations are after lumpectomy (and radiation)- they're sisters, not twins but you don't want them to be distant relatives.
You will always know you had surgery no matter how nice the breast looks. The changes you can expect are numbness (because you're cutting across skin nerves. Usually just local and most never complain about it), skin thickening from radiation, may be some discrepancy in breast size and the breast can feel heavy and the scar tissue can feel firm. Mild increased skin pigmentation after radiation can last many weeks, sometimes months. You will need to get to know this new normal but remember scar tissue is evolving and the fluid gets reabsorbed and it may take some time to get to that new baseline.
Breast conserving therapy is recommended if we can achieve a pleasing cosmetic result. Ninety percent of patients are happy with their results. We do not usually have reconstruction after breast conserving (lumpectomy) surgery. Sometimes we use 'oncoplastic' techniques to get a better result while n the operating room - planning incisions carefully and moving tissue from the chest wall to gain some laxity of the breast tissue to reduce risk of nipples going north south east and west. When considering what your expectations are after lumpectomy (and radiation)- they're sisters, not twins but you don't want them to be distant relatives.
Breast conserving therapy is recommended if we can achieve a pleasing cosmetic result. Ninety percent of patients are happy with their results. We do not usually have reconstruction after breast conserving (lumpectomy) surgery. Sometimes we use 'oncoplastic' techniques to get a better result while n the operating room - planning incisions carefully and moving tissue from the chest wall to gain some laxity of the breast tissue to reduce risk of nipples going north south east and west. When considering what your expectations are after lumpectomy (and radiation)- they're sisters, not twins but you don't want them to be distant relatives.
You will always know you had surgery no matter how nice the breast looks. The changes you can expect are numbness (because you're cutting across skin nerves. Usually just local and most never complain about it), skin thickening from radiation, may be some discrepancy in breast size and the breast can feel heavy and the scar tissue can feel firm. Mild increased skin pigmentation after radiation can last many weeks, sometimes months. You will need to get to know this new normal but remember scar tissue is evolving and the fluid gets reabsorbed and it may take some time to get to that new baseline.
Breast conserving therapy is recommended if we can achieve a pleasing cosmetic result. Ninety percent of patients are happy with their results. We do not usually have reconstruction after breast conserving (lumpectomy) surgery. Sometimes we use 'oncoplastic' techniques to get a better result while n the operating room - planning incisions carefully and moving tissue from the chest wall to gain some laxity of the breast tissue to reduce risk of nipples going north south east and west. When considering what your expectations are after lumpectomy (and radiation)- they're sisters, not twins but you don't want them to be distant relatives.
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
In my practice, I like to give post op patients 3-4 weeks before initiating radiation (that is if they don't need chemotherapy since that usually starts first). It is also a time to get your mojo back - your fighting spirit. You deserve a time to relax and take a family vacation and just a breather from all the events that led up to the diagnosis and decisions around surgery.
If chemotherapy is in the picture, then I would recommend using that time to get second opinions and review your options. You may be in a gray zone and therefore want to get other opinions. (Chemo would usually begin within a month similar to radiation treatments.) In my practice, I like to give post op patients 3-4 weeks before initiating radiation (that is if they don't need chemotherapy since that usually starts first). It is also a time to get your mojo back - your fighting spirit. You deserve a time to relax and take a family vacation and just a breather from all the events that led up to the diagnosis and decisions around surgery.
If chemotherapy is in the picture, then I would recommend using that time to get second opinions and review your options. You may be in a gray zone and therefore want to get other opinions. (Chemo would usually begin within a month similar to radiation treatments.)
If chemotherapy is in the picture, then I would recommend using that time to get second opinions and review your options. You may be in a gray zone and therefore want to get other opinions. (Chemo would usually begin within a month similar to radiation treatments.) In my practice, I like to give post op patients 3-4 weeks before initiating radiation (that is if they don't need chemotherapy since that usually starts first). It is also a time to get your mojo back - your fighting spirit. You deserve a time to relax and take a family vacation and just a breather from all the events that led up to the diagnosis and decisions around surgery.
If chemotherapy is in the picture, then I would recommend using that time to get second opinions and review your options. You may be in a gray zone and therefore want to get other opinions. (Chemo would usually begin within a month similar to radiation treatments.)
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
From that question I think you mean exercise to promote strength, speed and power, usually by body builders to build muscle mass. Usually when we speak about anaerobic exercise we refer to short spurts of high intensity exercise that lasts for a few seconds up to 2 minutes. Let’s talk about strength training here. Most of us are not professional athletes but we do need to maintain and build strength and hence muscle mass which is very important as we age.
We used to tell people not to do any 'heavy' lifting for fear that it would exacerbate risk of lymphedema in someone who has already had lymph nodes removed. Say that ain't so. That ain't so....... In breast cancer survivors at risk for lymphedema, a program of slowly progressive weight lifting compared with no exercise did not result in increased incidence of lymphedema.(1)
If you don't lift then start slowly with small weights and go up on reps instead of weights. Exercises that keep your arms in a dependent position for a longer time like bent over rows are probably not as good as Bicep curls and overhead shoulder presses.
While you are at it, instead of isolating just the upper body - incorporate lower body such as compound exercises i.e. lunges using 5 pound weights with overhead presses at the same time. Gets your heart going too. Instead of going up on the weight - you can try more reps (3 sets of 12 reps).
(1) Schmitz KH et al. Weight lifting for women at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010 Dec 22;304(24):2699-705.
From that question I think you mean exercise to promote strength, speed and power, usually by body builders to build muscle mass. Usually when we speak about anaerobic exercise we refer to short spurts of high intensity exercise that lasts for a few seconds up to 2 minutes. Let’s talk about strength training here. Most of us are not professional athletes but we do need to maintain and build strength and hence muscle mass which is very important as we age.
We used to tell people not to do any 'heavy' lifting for fear that it would exacerbate risk of lymphedema in someone who has already had lymph nodes removed. Say that ain't so. That ain't so....... In breast cancer survivors at risk for lymphedema, a program of slowly progressive weight lifting compared with no exercise did not result in increased incidence of lymphedema.(1)
If you don't lift then start slowly with small weights and go up on reps instead of weights. Exercises that keep your arms in a dependent position for a longer time like bent over rows are probably not as good as Bicep curls and overhead shoulder presses.
While you are at it, instead of isolating just the upper body - incorporate lower body such as compound exercises i.e. lunges using 5 pound weights with overhead presses at the same time. Gets your heart going too. Instead of going up on the weight - you can try more reps (3 sets of 12 reps).
(1) Schmitz KH et al. Weight lifting for women at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010 Dec 22;304(24):2699-705.
We used to tell people not to do any 'heavy' lifting for fear that it would exacerbate risk of lymphedema in someone who has already had lymph nodes removed. Say that ain't so. That ain't so....... In breast cancer survivors at risk for lymphedema, a program of slowly progressive weight lifting compared with no exercise did not result in increased incidence of lymphedema.(1)
If you don't lift then start slowly with small weights and go up on reps instead of weights. Exercises that keep your arms in a dependent position for a longer time like bent over rows are probably not as good as Bicep curls and overhead shoulder presses.
While you are at it, instead of isolating just the upper body - incorporate lower body such as compound exercises i.e. lunges using 5 pound weights with overhead presses at the same time. Gets your heart going too. Instead of going up on the weight - you can try more reps (3 sets of 12 reps).
(1) Schmitz KH et al. Weight lifting for women at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010 Dec 22;304(24):2699-705.
From that question I think you mean exercise to promote strength, speed and power, usually by body builders to build muscle mass. Usually when we speak about anaerobic exercise we refer to short spurts of high intensity exercise that lasts for a few seconds up to 2 minutes. Let’s talk about strength training here. Most of us are not professional athletes but we do need to maintain and build strength and hence muscle mass which is very important as we age.
We used to tell people not to do any 'heavy' lifting for fear that it would exacerbate risk of lymphedema in someone who has already had lymph nodes removed. Say that ain't so. That ain't so....... In breast cancer survivors at risk for lymphedema, a program of slowly progressive weight lifting compared with no exercise did not result in increased incidence of lymphedema.(1)
If you don't lift then start slowly with small weights and go up on reps instead of weights. Exercises that keep your arms in a dependent position for a longer time like bent over rows are probably not as good as Bicep curls and overhead shoulder presses.
While you are at it, instead of isolating just the upper body - incorporate lower body such as compound exercises i.e. lunges using 5 pound weights with overhead presses at the same time. Gets your heart going too. Instead of going up on the weight - you can try more reps (3 sets of 12 reps).
(1) Schmitz KH et al. Weight lifting for women at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010 Dec 22;304(24):2699-705.
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
Watch your weight! This is the one modifiable factor that you can control.(1)
1 Cemal Y et al. Preventative measures for lymphedema: separating fact from fiction. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Oct;213(4):543-51.
Watch your weight! This is the one modifiable factor that you can control.(1)
1 Cemal Y et al. Preventative measures for lymphedema: separating fact from fiction. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Oct;213(4):543-51.
1 Cemal Y et al. Preventative measures for lymphedema: separating fact from fiction. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Oct;213(4):543-51.
Watch your weight! This is the one modifiable factor that you can control.(1)
1 Cemal Y et al. Preventative measures for lymphedema: separating fact from fiction. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Oct;213(4):543-51.
New answer by DeborahAxelrodMD (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
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