Saving...

As a working person, what exercises do you recommend after a lumpectomy or mastectomy to do at work?

Cancel

Topics (Tags):

Health Surgery Recovery Exercises Work Breast Surgery Lumpectomy Fitness Exercise Mastectomy

Topics:

Health X Surgery Recovery X Exercises X Work X Breast Surgery X Lumpectomy X Fitness X Exercise X Mastectomy X

Done

Diseases:

Breast Cancer All Cancers

Diseases:

Breast Cancer All Cancers X

Done

Answer Summary

Cancel

Answers (4)

member9744 (Survivor (2 - 5 years)) - 01 / 26 / 2012

I would assume that if you are back to work you are at least 6 to 8 weeks out of surgery. Most doctors will recommend you don't start an exercise program until you are 6 to 8 weeks out of surgery, so make sure you have your doctor's permission to exercise before starting a program. That being said, I always start with flexibility and range of motion. After surgical procedures related to breast cancer, we have a tendency to sort of hunch over in a forward position which causes tightening in the chest muscles and weakness in the upper back muscles. If you are going back to work in an office, this would probably mean you are sitting at a desk and working on a computer, which puts you automatically in the above-mentioned position. So, what are some exercises you can do at work to regain range of motion and flexibility?

I would start by sitting up straight in your chair, and doing some shoulder rolls. Shoulder rolls are great because they "set" your posture. So sit up straight in your chair and squeeze your shoulders up towards your ears, then drop them down while squeezing them back towards each other, then drop them down as if you are putting your shoulder blades in your back pocket. This is an exaggerated version of a shoulder roll, but it gets your shoulders moving and pulls them down and back where they belong. Try a few of these by doing the exaggerated version first, then simply roll them up, back and down.

Let me know if this helps!!

For a video of flexibility exercises you can do at home or at work, go to http://www.movingonfromcancer.com

I would start by sitting up straight in your chair, and doing some shoulder rolls.  Shoulder rolls are great because they "set" your posture.  So sit up straight in your chair and squeeze your shoulders up towards your ears, then drop them down while squeezing them back towards each other, then drop them down as if you are putting your shoulder blades in your back pocket.  This is an exaggerated version of a shoulder roll, but it gets your shoulders moving and pulls them down and back where they belong.  Try a few of these by doing the exaggerated version first, then simply roll them up, back and down.

Let me know if this helps!!

For a video of flexibility exercises you can do at home or at work, go to http://www.movingonfromcancer.com

Cancel

Bumpyboobs (Survivor (1 year)) - 01 / 26 / 2012

After my right-side mastectomy, the doctors advice I start exercising asap (for fear of frozen shoulder) - like, the next day even. Most of the activities involved sitting down, so I can imagine you'd do them easily at work.

1) Put your hands on your shoulders, draw circles with your elbows.

2)Put your hands on the back of your head, bring your elbows together in front of your face

There was also something about reaching behind my back, and another where I would place my hands against the wall and slowly (with time) crawl my fingers up higher.

If you can get your hands on a tube (like from wrapping paper), trying bringing that into work. One hand holds the end of the tub, the other grips the far side and pushes up - this basically pushes your arm upward with less exertion, and stretches. Maybe wait a week or so before doing this - I probably waited about two weeks. This can be done sitting down, or standing.

Cancel

DrAttai (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified) ) - 01 / 28 / 2012

The American Cancer Society has a publication "Exercises after breast cancer surgery" - it's a booklet with diagrams of exercises that I find to be helpful. The link is here: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/MoreInformation/exercises-after-breast-surgery

Cancel

jodyms (Survivor (10 - 20 years)) - 01 / 31 / 2012

The sooner you can resume normal activities the better off you are. I don't mean push it, and I don't mean start doing jumping jacks. Start walking and add distance incrementally. And do this every day. One block, two, three, until you're comfortably walking a mile or so.

Equally important is the rehabilitation of your arm. If you haven't had physical therapy many excellent resources are mentioned above. You can run through arm exercises in fifteen minutes or so. I still do so to this day. After full lymph dissection and radiation the natural tendency of the arm and skin is to retract and tighten.

One of the best things I'e found is yoga. Many cancer treatment centers (in Houston through MD Anderson and Memorial Hermann) now offer yoga for cancer survivors. It's excellent and a gentle way to reduce stress.

Cancel

Note: Usernames have been made anonymous and profile images are not shown to protect the privacy of our members.

Note: All content on this site is informational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with questions regarding your health.

Flag Content

Please expain why you are flagging this content. Thank you.

Cancel

Thank you for flagging this content. We will look into it right away.

Give a 'Thank you' to

Cancel

Add Answer

Question:

Optional: What context or background information is relevant to this request?

Notes:
The more clear and thorough your request, the more likely you will receive support.
Many of our members are learning from this information or english might not be their first language. Please use standard english and spell out all words. For example, use 'you' instead of 'u'.

Submit

Thank you for sharing your question.

We will notify other members of your question. Responses will be sent to your email account as well as viewable at the following link:

We are finding other members now to join the chat.

Click here to start the chat.

Cancer questions and answers.

Personalized, helpful, and accurate health answers.

Join Via Facebook

Join Via Twitter

Question Statistics

Latest Activity: 01 / 31 / 2012
Views: 389
Followed By: 5 members