Skip to content

Lymphedema risk with physical activities?

Page last modified on: August 21, 2008
Question from Momm: I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node surgery Dec. 2007 and then had 13 more lymph nodes removed Jan. 30, 2008. I normally go to the gym 2-3 times a week and use the resistance machines. I also golf 9 holes regularly in the spring and summer months. My main fear now is lymphedema. Is it safe to continue doing these activities?
Answer —Linda Miller, P.T.: The important thing to remember is that most women do not get lymphedema. There's some new research that suggests that women who exercise regularly do not increase their incidence of lymphedema. So the key is to keep your activity level constant: do not dramatically increase either the resistance or the amount of exercise you're doing. Gradually, if you want to increase to playing a full round of golf or lifting more weights, the key is going about that increase in activity gradually.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.