Cancer News

Carolyn Newman's right arm is noticeably larger than her left. She developed lymphedema two years after completing treatment for breast cancer. "I had 13 lymph nodes removed and as a result of it, I really don't have a filter system in my arm and my arm gets full of fluid. It feels heavy all the time and I'm very self-conscious about it," she says. 30 percent of all breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema. "What the lymph node does is essentially the sewage system of our bodies. It cleanses the fluids that we have," explains physical therapist Josette Mullins. Think of lymphedema as a backup on the expressway when the number of traffic lanes is suddenly reduced. Until recently, exercise was believed to be harmful to lymphedema sufferers. "The thinking before was if you put too much stress son the arm, it's going to cause more swelling and then your lymphedema is going to get worse," Mullins says. Now a new study finds breast cancer patients should be lifting weights instead of restricting arm movements. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania divided women into two groups. One lifted weight twice a week, the other did not. After a year the group that lifted weights had less swelling than the group that didn't. Her lymphedema inspired Carolyn to design decorative sleeves to wear over compression stockings for the swelling. "I'm thrilled the study is out," she says. Now she's inspired to return to the gym and start working with weights again, something she hasn't done since being diagnosed with breast cancer four-and-a-half years ago.