Breast Cancer
 
Exercise After Surgery  

How should I approach exercise after surgery?

Start easy. A few days after surgery, you may want to begin with some very slow movements, a brief walk, and raising and lowering your arms. Stick with very gentle exercises for 6 weeks after treatment. Initially, these exercises are less about building strength, than about helping to relieve pain and prevent scar tissue from forming. Paying close attention to your breathing plays a big role during this time — breath work is a very powerful tool for managing pain.

The next phase of your rehabilitation after the 6-week mark should remain focused on breath work, posture, stretching, and mild strengthening.

When you feel strong enough to move on to the third phase, you will begin incorporating some strength-building exercises into your regimen and using more parts of your body in the exercises. From here you will want to progress slowly and at your own pace. Never push yourself beyond what is comfortable. In case you haven’t learned it by now, the idea of “no pain, no gain” is rubbish. Use your knowledge of your body and ask your doctor to help you judge what level of exercise is appropriate at different times in your recovery process.


Questions Related to Exercise After Surgery
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What is cellulitis?
What is "frozen shoulder"?
How can I cope with my lack of energy following treatment?
What is a compression sleeve ?
Is there anything I can do to prevent lymphedema?
Why is finishing treatment sometimes more frightening than actually undergoing treatment?
How can I cope with the fear that the cancer will come back?
When is breast cancer most likely to recur?
Are there different types of recurrence of breast cancer?
Who is at risk for lymphedema?
What is lymphedema?
What signs should I watch for that may indicate a recurrence?
Is it safe to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after cancer?
I had radiation therapy. Can I breastfeed my baby?
Can I have children after my treatment?
Is there anything about my cancer that makes me more likely to have a recurrence?
If my cancer does recur, how will I be treated?
What is the difference between local and systemic treatment?
I am a breast cancer survivor. Should I exercise?

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