Breast cancer surgery is an important step in the fight against disease for patients. And post-operative scientificly sound exercise, like a key to opening the door to health, can help the patient accelerate his or her physical recovery, improve his or her psychological state and embrace a vibrant life again.
I. Importance of post-cancer breast cancer exercise
1. Promotion of physical recovery
Breast cancer surgery, in particular lymphomy cleaning, may affect the motor function of the upper limbs of the patient, leading to rigid shoulders, restricted activities and even complications such as lymphoid oedema. Targeted post-operative exercise can effectively promote blood circulation, enhance muscle strength, improve joint activity, prevent muscle atrophy and joint bonding, and restore upper limb function to optimal state as soon as possible. For example, proper shoulder movement can ease the stress of shoulder muscles, facilitate lymph flow back and reduce the risk of lymph oedema.
2. Upgrading mental health
Patients who undergo breast cancer surgery often face psychological stress, such as changing their physical image, fear of re-emerging diseases, and are prone to anxiety, depression, etc. The persistence of physical exercise can contribute to the physical distribution of neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, which have a natural antidepressive and anxiety effect, help to improve the emotional state of patients, enhance self-confidence and self-identification, and allow patients to face the process of rehabilitation and future life with a more positive and optimistic attitude.
II. Basic principles of post-cancer activity
Progressive
Post-operative exercise should be gradual in order of simplicity to complexity, from light to heavy. In cases where the wound has not yet been fully healed, excessive force and heavy movement should be avoided in order not to affect the healing of the wound or to cause the wound to break. As the body recovers, the strength, time and frequency of exercise can gradually increase. For example, it begins with the movement of fingers and wrists in the early stages of the operation, then progresses gradually to a small range of shoulder movements, then to a larger upper limb activity.
2. Individualized customization
Each patient has different types of surgery, physical condition, age, underlying illness, etc., so the exercise programme should be tailored to his/her individual circumstances. Before starting exercise, it is advisable for the patient to communicate fully with a doctor or a rehabilitation therapist, to understand his/her physical limitations and the appropriate level of exercise, and to develop a plan that is best suited to his/her exercise. For example, for older or weaker patients, the initial intensity of exercise should be lower and progress slower.
III. Specific methods of post-cancer activity
1. Early post-operative exercise (1 – 2 weeks)
– Fisting: Patients can lay down or stand up, stretch their sided arms straight, shake their fists slowly, then let go, repeat, 10 – 15 below, 3 – 4 groups per day. This activity promotes hand circulation and exercises hand muscle strength.
– Rotation of wrists: keeping arms in the same position, with wrists in the centre, slowly revolving in the direction of clockwise and counterclockwise, with 10 circles in each direction, 3 – 4 groups per day. This action helps with the active wrist joint and prevents the wrist from hardening.
– Movement of elbows: elbows on the side, as close as possible to the shoulder, and then stretching out and going over and over again, 10 – 15 times a day, 3 – 4 groups. The movement of elbows allows for the exercise of elbow joints and upper arm muscles.
2. Medium-term exercise (3 – 6 weeks after surgery)
– Shoulder bell movement: patients stand or stand, lean forward, cause their side arm to fall naturally, with a axis of the shoulder, and slowly do a cycling exercise in the direction of a clockwise and counterclockwise, ranging from small to large, 10 – 15 laps per day, 3 – 4 groups per day. The exercise can help to relax shoulder muscles and increase shoulder joint activity.
– Arms climb the wall: stand against the wall, with two feet wide with shoulders, hands against the wall and fingers up. Slowly climbs the side arms up the wall until they reach the maximum tolerance level, drop down slowly after a moment, repeat 10 – 15 times, 3 – 4 groups per day. The arm-crawling exercise has had a significant effect on the lifting function of the shoulder.
3. Late exercise (after 6 weeks)
– The pullline movement: fixed a rope at a height, patient standing or standing, holding hands on both ends of the rope, and exercising the power of the shoulder and arm by pulling the rope for 10 – 15 minutes each, 2 – 3 groups per day.
– Boost-to-brain movement: feet with shoulders, hands with fists, arms up and out, slowly to both sides, and then back, repeat, 10 – 15 times each, 3 – 4 groups per day. Breast expansion helps to increase muscle strength in the chest and shoulder and improve body postures.
IV. NOTES
1. Pay close attention to physical reactions
During the exercise, the patient must always be aware of his or her physical feelings, such as increased pain from the wounds, haemorrhaging, a marked increase in swelling, agitation, panic, etc., and should immediately stop the exercise and inform the doctor in a timely manner. These symptoms may indicate an over-intensity of exercise or other physical anomalies that need to be further assessed and addressed.
2. Maintaining long-term exercise
Post-cancer activity is not an overnight exercise, but a long-term process. Patients need to be patient and persistent and continue to exercise in order to have a good recovery. Even when the physical function has largely returned to normal, patients are advised to continue appropriate physical exercise in order to maintain their physical health and reduce the risk of a relapse into disease.
3. Cooperation with other rehabilitation measures
Exercise should be combined with other rehabilitation measures, such as a reasonable diet, good psychological adjustment, regular review follow-up visits, etc. Comprehensive rehabilitation management better promotes the physical and psychological recovery of patients and improves the quality of life. For example, in terms of diet, increased protein intake contributes to muscle repair and growth; periodic reviews can identify and address possible complications or recurrences of disease in a timely manner.
Post-cancer activity is an essential part of the rehabilitation process. Through scientifically sound exercise, patients can gradually recover their physical functioning, improve their psychological state and regain their health and vitality. Let us move forward together, with positive action and firm faith, to defeat disease and to begin a better life.
