Exercise During Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As women across the country are celebrating survival, it’s important to remember the millions who are either in treatment or emerging from treatment whose fights are ongoing. Many breast cancer patients receive powerful chemotherapy drugs that alter their blood counts and peripheral nerves, causing fatigue. Research shows that patients benefit from exercise and movement during treatment, but that’s not always as easy to do as it was before chemo. Karen Hock is a physical therapist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her goal is to get breast cancer patients back to the activities they love as quickly as possible following treatment. To help those who are ready to get started, Karen has laid out three exercises women can try post-treatment to get themselves back in fighting form. While the exercises may appear simple, even something as “easy” as lifting your arms above your head can cause a lot of strain after breast cancer treatment.