Weightlifting slashes lymphedema risk after breast cancer treatment
Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 04:01
in Health & Medicine
Weightlifting may play a key role in the prevention of the painful limb-swelling condition lymphedema following breast cancer treatment, according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Combined with the team's previous findings that the exercise limits a worsening of symptoms among women who already have lymphedema, the new data cements the reversal of long-running advice that breast cancer survivors should avoid lifting anything heavier than five pounds after they finish treatment. The research results will be presented today (Dec. 8, 2010) at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and published online concurrently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.