How weight training can help women during and after breast cancer treatment

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, exercise is often the last thing on her mind. Between surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and the fatigue that comes with treatment, getting through the day can be difficult enough. Yet, staying active, particularly through weight training, can help women cope with some of the physical challenges of treatment and recover their strength afterwards.

Weight training can be done at home and does not require a gym or heavy equipment. A pair of light dumbbells or resistance bands can be enough to get started.

The exercises should feel manageable, particularly during treatment, when energy levels may fluctuate. As strength improves, the routine can be changed to suit what the woman is comfortable doing.

Some women find that they tire easily during treatment and struggle with things they never gave much thought to earlier. Carrying a grocery bag, climbing stairs or getting up from a chair can take more effort. This can happen when the body loses muscle strength and physical activity drops.

Regular resistance exercises can help slow muscle loss and make these everyday movements easier over time.

Bone health is another reason to include strength training. Certain breast cancer treatments, including some hormone therapies, can cause bones to lose density and become weaker. Exercises that work the muscles against resistance can help maintain bone strength. The choice of exercise and how much weight to use will depend on the woman's treatment, fitness and overall health.

There is another reason to pay attention to strength training. Some breast cancer treatments, particularly certain hormone therapies, can affect bone density. Resistance exercises place a healthy load on the muscles and bones, helping support musculoskeletal health. Exercise can also improve physical confidence at a time when a woman may feel that her body has changed in ways she cannot control.

Many women are unsure about lifting weights after breast surgery, particularly if lymph nodes have been removed. The concern is that exercise could lead to lymphoedema, which causes swelling in the arm.

However, appropriately planned strength training is generally considered safe, even for many women at risk of the condition. The exercises should be introduced gradually, with the intensity adjusted to suit each woman's recovery.

There is no fixed time to begin weight training. After surgery, some women may first need to regain movement in the shoulder and arm. During chemotherapy, fatigue and other side effects can also affect how much exercise a woman can manage on a given day. The treating doctor and a physiotherapist can help decide which exercises are suitable and when to progress.

The need to rebuild strength does not end when treatment is over. Many women still experience fatigue and reduced stamina for months afterwards.

Finishing treatment does not always mean feeling like oneself again straight away. Some women continue to struggle with tiredness and find that ordinary tasks take more out of them than they used to.

With the doctor's advice, weight training can be introduced slowly to help rebuild strength. For some, the difference shows up in small ways — getting through the day with less fatigue or having more energy for things they enjoy.

There is no need to head straight into a gym or pick up heavy weights.A few simple exercises, done regularly and increased as the body allows, are a good place to begin. The routine will look different for every woman, depending on her treatment and recovery.

Weight training does not treat cancer or prevent it from coming back, but it can help women feel physically stronger and more comfortable as they get back to their lives.

-Dr. Srinivas Juluri, Director of Oncology, Chief Surgical Oncologist, KIMS-Arete Hospital