GO TO CMA Home
GO TO Inside CMA
GO TO Advocacy and Communications
GO TO Member Services
GO TO Publications
GO TO Professional Development
GO TO Clinical Resources

GO TO What's New
GO TO Contact CMA
GO TO Web Site Search
GO TO Web Site Map


CMAJ
CMAJ - December 1, 1998JAMC - le 1 décembre 1998

"Yes" to exercise for breast cancer survivors

CMAJ 1998;159:1358

Donald McKenzie's article about dragon boat racing1 confirms my experience over the past 30 years in caring for patients who have undergone mastectomy [full text]. The generally accepted wisdom is that the affected arm should not be used in a normal manner and certainly should not be used for exercise. This advice is based on the suspicion that exercise will cause lymphangitis or inflammatory lesions.

I have not found this to be the case. I advise patients to use the affected arm normally. However, I do suggest that the arm be protected from excessive ultraviolet radiation, insect bites and cat scratches. In addition, I caution against using the affected arm when blood samples are withdrawn for diagnostic purposes.

It's always tempting for the expert to say "no" to a patient, but I am usually able to say "yes" to inquiries about normal activity and exercises.

Charles M. Godfrey, MD
Post Mastectomy Unit
Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto, Ont.

Comments Send a letter to the editor
Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction

Reference
  1. McKenzie DC. Abreast in a Boat — a race against breast cancer. CMAJ 1998;159(4):376-8.