Ideal and Restricted Exercises after Breast Cancer Surgery

There are women who have good or poor body response to surgery. A woman who undergone Breast Cancer Surgery may or may not manifests unusual symptoms that are considered as clinical manifestations of serious and life-threatening complication. Some may state that they suffered from stiffness, feeling of numbness or intense pain due to the removal of the breast tissue and another surrounding part of the breast, especially when the nerves at the chest wall are damaged during the operation. However, there are women who respond to the surgery very well in which they did not suffer from any unwanted symptoms or even the slightest complications that can possibly occur after the surgery. Regardless of presence or absence of these symptoms, as long as the woman is able to ambulate and the surgeon clears them, they can go back to their usual daily activities of living including exercises.

Usually, as early as possible, the client who undergone Breast Cancer Surgery is advised to perform simple exercises. One day post-operative, the client is advised to perform deep breathing exercises. The purpose of this exercise is to maintain the movement of the lungs. Oxygen is needed by the body through the efforts of the pneumocytes (cells of the lungs) it releases fluids that prevent friction in the lungs causing atelectasis. Atelectasis and pneumonia are the very common complication to the patient who undergone the major operation without moving. The doctor advises the client to perform passive range of motion exercises which includes arm lifting or closing and an opening of the hand. The purpose of this exercise is to decrease inflammation and help the movement of the lymph fluids.

One week after the Breast Cancer Surgery, the draining tubes are being removed. The activities improve as well. The doctor may suggest to the client who undergone this procedure to perform the range of motion exercises such as the lifting of non-heavy materials overhead, squeezing of the shoulder blades simultaneously, bending and extending of the arms from right to left side. This form of exercise should be repeated for about two to three times in a day.

One month after the Breast Cancer Surgery, the client should observe the incision site. A regular check-up to the surgeon will monitor the progress of the healing period. The status of the incision site can determine the activities of the client. Usually, if the operative site is fully healed at this point, stretching and strengthening exercises are suggested. However, if the incision is not yet fully healed, this must be avoided because strenuous activities like this type of exercises can cause the suture of the incision site to open. It will only delay the healing process and worst another reparative operation will be done. For instance that the incision site is fully healed, the client is advised to carry lightly weighted items for about 2 to 5 pounds of weights. This should be raised to each side and must be lifted over the head and across the body.

The advantages of these exercises after the Breast Cancer Surgery is to prevent the occurrence of complications as well as to improve the blood flow and it helps the incision site to recover. It can also decrease the formation of blood clots in the operative site. Organ failure involving the heart and lungs will be prevented as well.

The client is advised when performing these exercises, they must carefully perform it with precautions. Moving must be done gradually. If pain appears right after exercising, they must immediately report it to the surgeon. Any feeling of unusual heaviness, swelling that worsens or a sudden feeling of numbness and tingling sensation must be referred to the physician.

Patient who undergone Breast Cancer Surgery is also indicated for a series of chemotherapy, there are various ways to administer chemotherapy. Most of the time, a catheter or port is used as a route for administering medications. If this route is used to patient, they are restricted to some exercises which involves the strengthening of the upper part of body. It is very important for the client to consult the surgeon or medical doctor before executing the exercised because there are activities that are restricted to the condition of the patient. Instead of getting the benefit of exercises, it will only worsen the condition.