The right moves to fight breast cancer

Regaining strength and energy after treatment can seem daunting. We find out gentle exercise is the way to go.

Pilates can help relieve pain and stiffness that occurs after breast cancer--related surgery. Courtesy Bodytree Studio

Simply getting out of bed, or even taking a deep breath, after surgery for breast cancer can be hard enough, let alone lifting your arms to dress yourself or brush your hair.

For someone who has had a mastectomy, a breast biopsy, lumpectomy, lymph-node biopsy or removal, or radiotherapy, regaining arm and shoulder movement is a slow, painful process. However the right kind of gentle, consistent exercises can make a big difference.

“Low-effect exercise such as yoga and Pilates, and just stretching in itself, is fantastic – it’s absolutely successful in helping patients recover,” says Dr Gowri Ramanathan, a consultant, head of obstetrics and gynaecology, and director of foetal medicine at Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

“The muscles that have seized up during surgery need to be slowly brought back to life. The best way to go about that is through exercise.”

National Cancer Institute ­research suggests that remaining active after a breast-cancer diagnosis can be beneficial in improving quality of life, reducing fatigue and assisting with energy balance.

“Not to mention the mental well-being and emotional high you get from exercising, with those endorphins pumping through you,” says Dr Falah Al Khatib, a consultant clinical oncologist at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai. “We want cancer patients to remain positive and fight. Getting them to stick to an exercise routine is the best way to do that.”

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2005 found that women who exercised moderately – three to five hours of walking at an ­average pace each week – following diagnosis had improved survival rates. Other research published the same year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that a home-based physical-­activity programme improved the psychological well-being of women who were previously ­inactive, and who had completed treatment for early-stage to stage-two breast cancer.

Jenny Holliday wasn’t aware of the statistics when she resolved to use her love of running to help her with and recover from stage-two breast cancer.

The 37-year-old from the ­United States, who lives with her two sons, ages 9 and 4, in Al Ain, had a lumpectomy just over a month after cancer was diagnosed, and started chemotherapy six weeks after that. During treatment, she chose to take part in the Pink Run.

“My oldest son loves to run, so he came along with me and we ran a little, then would walk a little, then run again, ” ­Holliday says.

At least twice a week, during the boys’ football and rugby training sessions, she would walk or run on the track.

“I did it to keep myself energised, to keep myself positive and to help me get better,” she says.

Holliday and her sons are also big fans of the annual Colour Runs organised by Daman ActiveLife – she has been participating in them since she arrived in the UAE three years ago.

“Exercising has definitely helped me fight the cancer,” she says. “I feel amazing when I’m active. It can’t hurt as long as I listen to my body and don’t push myself. ”

The cancer is in remission, but Holliday makes a daily commitment to maintaining her health and walks three kilometres a day during the week with friends.

“When I first got cancer, I was told it’s 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent physical,” she says. “You’re going to have those bad days, but if you stay positive then you can get through.”

Low-intensity, low-impact exercises are a great way to introduce, or reintroduce, gentle exercise after treatment, says Lindsey Corrado-Sampson, a Pilates and Xtend Barre instructor at Bodytree Studio in Abu Dhabi. “Pilates is a gentle, low-­impact, whole-body exercise that applies to everyday life.

“It helps strengthen your core, strengthen the shoulder and back areas that tend to be affected after surgery, and introduces little movements gradually so women can get their full range of mobility back safely.”

Corrado-Sampson has identified five key Pilates movements that can help with recovery (see the news & blog section at www.bodytreestudio.com). She says a simple exercise routine that is safe and approved by a doctor can “give women their lives back”.

“When they feel they’ve lost control or lost the right to take mobility for granted, they can be taught to move again,” she adds.

Elaine Youngman credits yoga and Pilates with helping her ease the pain and stiffness in her arms after having a lymph node removed two years ago. The 58-year-old mother of three, who moved to the UAE from Wales 13 years ago, refuses to let a day go by without exercising.

“I started off slow and easy because I was so weak, I could barely lift my arm,” she says. “Gradually, I regained full movement – I’m sure it’s because of the exercising.”

The key, says Youngman, is to remind yourself: “When has exercise ever been bad for you?”