How do you build strength and exercise before, during and after cancer treatment? This book by Dr Kathryn Schmitz, an Expert in exercise oncology, should be your Bible and go-to guide.
Following breast conserving surgery and 19 rounds of radiotherapy, I developed mild lymphedema (swelling beneath my arm and outer chest), but this ‘bench press’ exercise greatly increased my mobility and reduced the swelling.
Using moderate weights, the book suggests doing three sets of 10-12 reps three or four times per week, so I began with 4kg dumbbells and gradually increased the weight to 7.5kg which is what I’m using here.
After 3 weeks’ of training, I now have full movement in my shoulders and can see a definite improvement in muscle definition, especially in my pectoral and anterior deltoids.
This exercise is also good for alleviating cording (a complication of breast cancer surgery), and makes me feel like I’m doing something positive to help myself which is so empowering.
I’ll post more weight training exercises by Dr Katherine Schmitz soon. But in the meantime, if you would like to know more about the author and her ‘5 step’ weightlifting programme, here’s a link to the ‘Moving Through Cancer’ website:
https://www.movingthroughcancer.com/
I hope you enjoy.
'Moving Through Cancer'