Hi, I’m not post treatment yet (post surgery and halfway through weekly taxol chemotherapy, then rads, then tamoxifen). But I was a keen Muay Thai kickboxer (training rather than sparring) and want to go back to it when I’m done. Obviously lymphedema is the main worry! has anyone on here successfully returned to this sport and has advice for me? I have a wonderful trainer but she doesn’t normally work with BC survivors. I’d been training approximately one and a half years and was up to 2 hours a week. I’m walking 2-3 miles a day during chemo and doing some yoga once a week but that’s it.
Hi tinkerbell, I returned to yoga 3 weeks after mastectomy and continued throughout chemo and rads. I also returned to combat (mix of martial arts) about six months later - during weekly taxol - and have continued since. (2 years).
Just take it carefully. In my experience the combination of surgery, chemo and tamoxifen has made me susceptible to injury - painful joints, less flexibility and increased bruising, all presumably because treatment has induced menopause (and I’ve just turned 50!
Lymphodema nurse said that exercise is good as the movement and working muscles help to move lymph fluid. I would probably avoid pad work with your affected arm, but kicking is fine.
Good luck, it’s great to get back to activities that you enjoy, takes you one step back to “normal”!
Thanks riversidedawn! That’s great to hear. Wow you were back in martial arts during Taxol, I’m doing that now but don’t know if I’m ready to train! I don’t have lymphedema but I’m scared of getting it - I’ve been to a talk about it and it seems the main risky moves are plank and press ups because of the strain involved. Do you do punches etc in your MMA training?
Hi tinkerbell, yes combat includes combinations of kicks, punches, core/ab training. I’ve never been great at press ups as broke my wrists many years ago, but I do a few and forearm plank. Find that my pj strength has gone, especially shoulder and pecs on the operated side. I was paranoid about lymphodema and had a flare up before last recon op, but it’s gone post op. I still sit in th jacuzzi (with arms out!) and steamroom although we shouldn’t! Life’s for living I say. Just do what feels right x
Hi riversidedawn and anyone else who’s interested - I’m back in the ring! Doing 2 hrs boxing a week now. I feel SO much better when doing this and seems to be improving my waistline. Also great for mood. My arm seems to be coping, apparently my lymph is OK. I do get achy but nothing too bad and my neuropathy has faded away thank goodness. I really recommend this sport for rebuilding fitness.