Weight Lifting Can Ease Arm Swelling in Breast Cancer Survivors

A new study was released Wednesday has found that weightlifting may actually help women after mastectomy and not cause them to develop lymphedema. For years and years women who had mastectomies were told they could not do any heavy lifting or they would develop lymphedema. Lymphedema is a painful arm swelling condition that develops when fluid in the lymph system backs up behind a blockage instead of flowing freely. This is a frequent problem in post mastectomy patients because along with the breast, lymph nodes are usually removed from under the arm also. The more lymph nodes removed the greater the chance of developing lymphedema. The nodes are tested to check for the spread of the cancer. Lymphedema affects about 25% of the nation’s 2 1/5 million breast cancer survivors. They were told not to lift grocery bags, small children, or heavy boxes or buckets on the side of the mastectomy for the rest of their lives.

The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, proved that there are clear-cut benefits for women to do progressive, slow strength training. Weight lifting can decrease the bothersome and uncomfortable feelings of heaviness and leathery skin texture to the arm on the effected side along the pain.
A study led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that women who did regular weight lifting had no increase in swelling in the affected limb and did see benefits such as improved strength and lessened symptoms of the lymphedema.

The study leaders also said that the findings will result in cost savings also by reducing direct health care costs and lowering the amount of time a women is out on disability and when she can return to work in her regular capacity be it insider of outside of the home.