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Maureen McBeth, physical therapist at Mercy Medical Center's Center for Restorative Therapies

Research Indicates That Weight-Bearing Exercise May Benefit Patients With Lymphedema

Recent research could change the way breast cancer survivors exercise. Doctors remove lymph nodes from under the arm of breast cancer patients to find out how far the cancer has spread. That procedure can cause a build up of fluid known as lymphedema. Now an activity that was once avoided appears to be safe for these lymphedema sufferers — weight lifting.

Bertha Siles, 54, is a breast cancer survivor.

"It swells and tightens up your muscles and stuff," said Siles. "You'll know when it's coming on because it starts to get tight."

"Any cancer patient who has lymph nodes removed would be at risk for getting lymphedema in that region of their body where the lymph nodes were removed," said Maureen McBeth, physical therapist at Mercy Medical Center's Center for Restorative Therapies.

Siles is doing what many breast cancer patients with lymphedema wouldn't — working out with weights.

"For years people were told not to lift anything over five pounds, not to carry their child or do any strenuous activity with their operative arm, and the research is starting to shed light on evidence that suggests otherwise," said McBeth.

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates weight training can actually be beneficial to breast cancer survivors when it's done properly.

The researchers found slowly progressive weight training didn't worsen swelling, but improved symptoms and increased strength.

Exercise hasn't just made Siles stronger, she's also more flexible.

"I couldn't even get my arm all the way back or up," said Siles. "Now I can stretch it up, I can go out you know, and it's just awesome."

McBeth emphasizes the importance of progressing slowly and lifting weights under supervision.

Women in the study also lifted weights with a compression sleeve.

To view Maureen McBeth's interview with WJZ-TV13 on this topic, click this link:
http://wjz.com/local/health.lymph.nodes.2.1470830.html