Returning to rock climbing after a mastectomy and during chemo

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Recovering from treatment
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I wanted to share a nice thing… and see if anyone else has similar experiences to share.

After having a successful unilateral mastectomy (direct to implant) in early August, I have been counting down the days to my first climb. I’ve been rock climbing (mostly indoors) for more than 20 years, and losing that activity–which I share with my husband and daughter–would break my heart.

Yesterday, just under 9 weeks after my surgery, I got back on the wall!

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I had been cleared at six weeks to begin all other activities, but my breast surgeon and the PT at the hospital advised me to keep weight lifting light and to ease back in slowly. I was diligent in doing on the requisite stretches and exercises during my recovery, and I have almost full range of motion in my arm and shoulder on that side.

As I approached the warm-up wall at my favorite local gym, my heart jumped. I was afraid of overloading my pectoral muscle or damaging my implant. But I picked an easy route (5b) and started moving. And it was WONDERFUL!

Good climbers naturally use many muscles when they climb. It’s second nature to me… except that having been away (and through BC trauma) for so many weeks, I’d forgotten I HAD a second nature! One hold at a time, I realised that my deltoids, biceps, and lats, as well as my legs, were doing the majority of the work. Just the way they were supposed to. A relief. I topped the route and let the autobelay take me back to the ground… and I did a little happy dance all the way down!

I did six laps on that easy route. It tuckered me out! But in the end, I was chalky and sweaty and elated.

I’m at the end of my first three-week chemo cycle. Though the side effects were pretty rough (EC90 for the first four cycles) in the first week, and fatigue plagued me the second week, I’m feeling almost myself in this third week. Which is why I made sure to get into the gym. The second cycle kicks off on Thursday. I expect I won’t climb again until I get to that blessed third week. But I will have this happy memory to keep me going and give me hope.

Has anyone else been able to ease back into exercise post-op/during chemo? Any other climbers out there figuring it out?

Love and patience and hope to all of you in this very very very pink BC Awareness month.

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Hey well done first of all, that’s an awesome achievement! I climbed as well during chemo, main issue I had was around my nails being chemo damaged later on and after chemo. I also had neuropathy in my feet so needed a size up in shoes. Mainly I went to the wall when it was quiet to avoid crowds and infection risk. Anything you can get out of being on the wall that works and makes you feel good is a success.
I climbed and trained in the gym all the way through chemo, i think it made a big difference in helping me manage the side effects, but everyone is different. I dropped my grade and just enjoyed being there and doing something normal.
Take care and keep us posted how you get on. Ask about neuropathy and nail damage - if your chemo regime has that as a side effect, cold can really help. I wished they’d told me about cold mits for my feet as they work like the cold cap and help stop the chemo damaging the nerves. It stopped me walking and climbing as much

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Hi, that’s brilliant news :flexed_biceps: I had a lumpectomy followed by another op to remove my auxiliary lymph nodes so a bit different to you but I made sure I kept up with running and weight training etc throughout! Definitely makes a difference keeping active as much as possible! I did find with the EC my heart rate was elevated more than normal so just watch out for that and take it easier if it does while you’re on treatment! I then had taxol and used the ice packs for my hands and feet to help prevent any neuropathy which worked other than my heal is still slightly numb but I can live with that :flexed_biceps:. Exercise is so beneficial I think not just for the body but also the mind :blush:. All the best for the rest of your treatment :flexed_biceps: x

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Wow, great to hear you are back climbing. I was climbing pre and post diagnosis but stopped when I started chemotherapy largely because I had a PICC line. I’ve also had surgery and radiotherapy. I currently have a bit of tightness in the armpit area so not able to climb just yet but I managed to get back to running and the gym post chemotherapy. Hopefully climbing will be next on my list.

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Good to hear from y’all! And NEUROPATHY has been on my mind a lot recently, because Taxol is my next treatment (kicking off in December). Twelve weekly rounds in a row. Oy. And in Norway, they don’t seem to put icing in the mix without personal advocacy.

I started asking about it at my last meeting with my oncologist. He doesn’t want me to assume that neuropathy will be an issue, but he was clear that they will take the symptom seriously and adjust my treatment as needed to avoid any long-term damage. Quality of life AFTER cancer is important, and climbing/running etc. is a huge part of that for me.

Thinking I’ll get some booties and mitts for myself anyway, just to be on the safe side. Got a product recommendation for me?