Maria
Good for you, getting back into the gym. If you are going to have chemo,
being fit, and getting some exercise helps. (Anecdotal reports from friends,
advice from clinicians, and a little bit of personal experience).

Do what you *can* without getting exhausted or causing pain. Nice and easy,
don't stress about it. Let the people who supervise the gym know what you've
been through, find out what their experience is with post-lymph node
removal.  My instructor told me to keep the shoulders down, and use the
rower with an underarm grip (that is, with palms up - it restricts the
movement somewhat, and uses the muscles between the shoulders).

Try some other aerobic activities like the stair-climber, treadmill,
elliptical walker too.

Aerobic exercise is good and, imho, helps shed some of the effects of having
anaesthetics.  Feeling good about yourself is pretty damned fine too.

All the best.

Di

María wrote:

Uh-oh, sorry -- I'm afraid you got me started on one of my pet subjects!
 Yes, you can row after BC.

First & foremost, ask your surgeon about how soon you can exert yourself
after surgery.  (If s/he says never do repetitive resistance upper body
exercise every again, s/he is probably not up-to-date on the latest
advice on the subject.)

I would very start slowly, take it easy, and build up to more time &
exertion over a long period.  Some rowing machines will allow you to set
the resistance of the machine . . . if yours does, I'd dial it down to
least resistance at first.

(Stop reading here if you don't want to be bored silly on the subject of
rowing after BC. <g>)

I had surgery in October, 2000 -- bilateral mastectomies with lymph
nodes removed on one side, followed by 6 months of chemo (AC followed by
Taxol) & radiation.  I started some light weightlifting within about 3
months of surgery, began Yoga in spring 2001, worked up to more intense
weightlifting (including lifting to failure), and started rowing (for
the first time, not resuming an existing program) in January 2003.

I'm on a breast cancer survivors rowing team.  I have rowed 305,674
meters (almost 190 miles) on the rowing machine since October 31, 2003,
not counting meters of real on-water rowing.  My average heart rate for
intense rowing sessions will get into the 150s & 160s (I'm 45 y/o), and
I've maxed it out at around 178 in rowing tests.  I've rowed as much as
an hour at a time without a break, though usually do shorter pieces with
short breaks.

In February, I entered my first indoor rowing (rowing machine) race, and
came home with a first-place medal in my age/weight group (no brag
intended -- not such a great accomplishment, since there were only two
women entered in my age/weight group, and the 2nd was one of my
team-mates who'd not been working out over the holidays!).

No new lymphedema cases among any of my rowing team-mates.

So, if you work your way up to rowing again carefully, my experience
suggests there's no reason you won't be able to row again.

Ann T.
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