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It has been 6 months since my lumpectomy and 2 months since I finished rads. I was naughty over Easter and now the rain and the cold make me want to stay in bed a little longer. BUT on Monday I am going to REHAB! I am starting the 10 week course at Notre Dame University- a combined group exercise and councilling program for breast cancer survivors. In preparation I have been walking and doing a few more stretches than usual. My body shape has changed over the 6 months and I certainly have let my arm get stiff. I want to swim in the sea this spring and play tennis soon. I know exercise makes me feel good. I would love to know how any of you are going with this issue. We could support each other. rose.
50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
Exercise does make you feel great and I am always thinking (and my daughter is nagging) I must do more than walking the dog. So decided to have a hit of tennis last Friday(haven't picked up a racquet for at least 8 years) it was lovely on the grass courts although scores were ordinary which is to be expected and my muscles screamed all week. Even so I sas intending to play again today but the rain beat me. I do hope your new program at ND goes well and please keep us up to date with your progress. Have a good weekend (-:
the Click Researcher 
50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
the Click Researcher
Hi Rose and everyone else
Exercise, particularly my Body Pump class has been my saviour through my breast cancer experience. I was diagnosed last August and by the end of September had survived a lumpectomy, re-excision and finally a right breast mastectomy with axial clearance. This was followed by a 6 month chemo treatment.
I had been attending Body Pump 2or 3 times a week for 10 years prior to my diagnosis and made casual aquaintences with other regular attendees. After the first 3 months of chemo I contacted one friend from the class and arranaged to have coffee with him. When I got to the gym after their class all the regular class members had dressed in pink shirts, made pink cakes and gave me lovely pink flowers and lots of hugs and support. I was quite overwhelmed.
I returned to the classes myself while still on chemo, I was having a weekly light dose for 3 months so felt OK. While my energy levels were a bit low I managed to do about 75% of the class with light weights and just stopped when I became tired. The instructor and other class members were so supportive. It helped me to feel like I was getting back to normal just being able to participate in the classes.
Now that all is over and I am feeling strong I am back to almost full weights and regular class attendance. As my hair grows back I can't believe how many women in the class have come to comment on how well I am looking and to talk to me of their brushes with breast cancer in the past. I found that I had a huge support network in a place I never would have imagined I'd find it :)
60 YO mother DX Aug 10, Multi focal DCIS. Nodes clear, lumpectomy, re-excision, right mastectomy and node clearance. Chemo AC and paclitaxel
the Click Researcher
50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
the Click Researcher
Well Day 2 at Notre Dame was great. When I had to work harder to raise my heart rate I just thought of you Goggie and how hard you must have worked to get back to feeling 'normal'. You must be a very determined girl. It felt good to reawaken muscles I had forgotten about- tomorrow may be another matter! I have felt energized all day since.
This post was edited by rose at June 1, 2011 4:46:46 PM WATime"50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
Good to hear that you are getting in to the exercise regime at Notre Dame, Rose. I really enjoy my exercise and was truly devastated when I woke from my mastectomy and found that I had almost no mobility in my right arm from the node removal. I started exercising as soon as possible and I am relieved to say that I now have full mobility back. Body pump has helped with that although my right tricep is still not as strong as my left but it improves every week.
This post was edited by goggie at June 5, 2011 2:37:51 PM WATime"60 YO mother DX Aug 10, Multi focal DCIS. Nodes clear, lumpectomy, re-excision, right mastectomy and node clearance. Chemo AC and paclitaxel
50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
the Click Researcher
Married 37yo mum of 2 young kids. Triple negative, Grade 3 tumour. Lumpectomy plus axillary clearance (nodes all clear). 3 months AC chemo plus 3 months weekly Paclitaxel. 6 weeks radiotherapy. 5 weeks holidays including getting married.
hi Rose I am carrying on with the exercises and yoga. I am getting stronger
Shiu Ning
This post was edited by shiuning at June 13, 2011 8:30:16 AM WATime"50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
the Click Researcher
Married 37yo mum of 2 young kids. Triple negative, Grade 3 tumour. Lumpectomy plus axillary clearance (nodes all clear). 3 months AC chemo plus 3 months weekly Paclitaxel. 6 weeks radiotherapy. 5 weeks holidays including getting married.
50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
the Click Researcher
the Click Researcher
50YO wife+mother. DX Nov'10, 7mm grade 2 tumour + DCIS + LCIS. Nodes clear, wide local incision, margins clear. Rads Feb/March'11+ Tamoxifen
the Click Researcher
The Mind-Body Connection
Can exercise improve your mind?
Exercise has been shown to assist in improving your mood and self-perceptions, helps to improve depression and reduces your anxiety levels. This is also true for people who are dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer as research is showing that exercise not only improves physical fitness but also decreases depression and anxiety and reduces fatigue.
Furthermore, some recent research being conducted at Notre Dame University in Fremantle has found that exercise in conjunction with counselling, resulted in even greater benefits than exercise alone. This research found that fatigue, a major side effect of breast cancer treatment, significantly improved as a result of counselling and was helped even more if counselling and exercise were both undertaken.
The importance of dealing with the emotional distress that breast cancer can lead to is important to consider as there is now good evidence to suggest that getting support through counselling has an additional benefit to not only your emotional well being but it also helps you to physically improve. The mind-body connection is indeed powerful!
By Cathie Smith
Support Services
Coordinator/Counsellor
Adapted from Breast Cancer Care WA "Spirit -September 2011"
Available at: http://www.breastcancer.org.au/sites/breastcancerorgau/assets/public/File/Newsletters/Spirit%20August%202011%20web.pdf
Daughter of breast cancer survivor Iris
The Click Project Coordinator 
Daughter-in-law and niece of breast cancer "thrivers"!
