August 13th, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Women treated for breast cancer are warned to avoid heavy lifting – including groceries, babies, and hefty handbags – for fear they’ll develop chronic arm swelling.

A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers shatters this guidance. By lifting weights twice a week for a year, breast-cancer survivors with the swelling had fewer debilitating symptoms and flare-ups, even as they grew stronger.

In fact, some of the 70 iron-pumpers completely controlled the unsightly, incurable fluid buildup called lymphedema.

“It’s just a wonderful program,” said Jackie Amarnek, 77, of King of Prussia, who still works out regularly. “My arm looks perfectly normal now; you’d never know there’s anything wrong.”

The study, published in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, is the largest and most rigorous to show clear-cut benefits – and no risks – to slow, progressive strength training for women with breast-cancer-related lymphedema.

Find more about the research from the Philadelphia Inquirer article.