Anyone that’s ever been diagnosed with Breast Cancer knows that cancer changes you. For me, it was for the better. You see things differently. You’re more grateful for the little things and the unexpected things. For me, one of those little things is Pilates.
I was 41 years old and had a mammogram and biopsy in Las Vegas, my hometown. The doctor had found a lump at my annual OB-GYN appointment. After investigation, they determined it was stage 0 (contained Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) and gave me the results over the phone while I was visiting family in Hawaii. I was told I could wait a month until I got back from vacation to deal with it as it wasn’t urgent, but, me being me, I wanted “it” out right away.
My partner made a few phone calls to some old friends and got me in to see the best breast surgeon on the island of Oahu within days. I was still breastfeeding my 21-month-old daughter at the time, but three days later I went in for a lumpectomy. I came out of surgery with a tumor and 23 lymph nodes removed. It was Stage 3, Her2+ Breast Cancer. I’m glad I didn’t wait. Still in Hawaii, I underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by six weeks of radiation and another six months of immunotherapy back home.
As you might expect, recovering from breast cancer changed me. I saw things differently. One of the things that I hadn’t expected to have such an effect on me was Pilates.
Pilates greatly helped me through my breast cancer recovery, especially after the initial treatment. It had been a while since I had moved deliberately and mindfully as I came to do with Pilates, because the only physical activity I had had throughout chemotherapy was walking. It felt good to be in control of my body, to stretch my arm and open up my chest that had felt so tight after surgery. This is one of the many benefits of Pilates for breast cancer recovery. It felt good to just lie on the mat and breathe deeply and trust in my body’s innate ability to heal.
Why Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery?
Joseph Pilates created the Pilates (he named it Contrology) exercise system almost 100 years ago. One of Joseph’s first protégés, dancer Eve Gentry, had a radical masectomy in 1955 and turned to him for help when doctors told her she would never lift her arms again. A year later, and to the disbelief of her doctors, she was back to dancing thanks to Pilates. A man ahead of the times, he advocated for an exercise program and lifestyle that restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit. This is one of the many reasons why Pilates is great for breast cancer recovery. As Joseph Pilates has said, “Change happens through movement and movement heals.”
The Benefits of Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery
The benefits of exercise in general are well noted, and it’s no different when going through treatment or recovering from breast cancer. I was a trained, professional dancer, so I had been doing Pilates for a long time. When my career as a dancer was coming to an end, I got certified as a Pilates teacher. It was a natural progression as the movement patterns and technique are similar to dance, especially classical ballet. I knew the benefits of practicing Pilates, So after surgery and treatment it was the best, most obvious option for my recovery. I had a friend who was teaching at Pilates + Yoga, and she encouraged me to become a teacher there.
Pilates is perfect for cancer treatment and recovery, as it is a gentle, low impact form of exercise, able to meet you where you’re at. It can be done lying down or seated, and it has psychological benefits as well as physical benefits due to the mind-body connection that it creates. For a breast cancer survivor, having a mastectomy can be debilitating. It can leave you scarred physically and mentally, stripping away your identity as a woman, as can the hair loss, a side effect of chemotherapy. But while you’re exercising, the endorphins released and the ability to take control of your body again can really improve your mood and help with body issues, leaving you feeling empowered.
I’m not the only one to recognize the benefits of Pilates for breast cancer survivors. There have been many studies on the successful use of Pilates for rehabilitation after breast cancer surgery. If surgery has left you feeling tight in the chest and arm area, like I experienced, Pilates can help increase mobility. It recruits secondary muscles to help with movement if the chest muscles have been compromised due to a mastectomy. Pilates helps to stabilize and strengthen the affected area. It can Improve posture and core strength, which can help with balance, preventing falls because treatment can often leave you feeling weak and fatigued.
Pilates also helps the lymph system drain, which decreases the likelihood of developing the painful swelling of lymphedema as a result of surgery. This is something I personally struggled with after my lumpectomy. The cording issues from having lymph nodes removed left me unable to straighten my left arm. I thought it would never be the same again, but gentle stretching exercises helped return it to normal.
Breathing, the “internal shower”
The breathing patterns Pilates focuses upon help with calming the nervous system and promoting a sense of calm and well-being, enhancing mood and body image concerns. Because he understood the importance of breathing for cleansing the system and promoting circulation, Joseph Pilates calls breathing the “internal shower.”
Pilates, A Mindful Practice
As you might imagine, a cancer diagnosis is both terrifying and stress inducing. We all know that stress is not good for us. It affects the body as well as the mind. Stress can weaken your immune system, which is already compromised due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and it can slow the healing of wounds from surgery. So reducing stress through having a mindful practice, whether that be meditation, yoga or Pilates, is very beneficial. It creates optimal conditions for the body to heal and recover. It can help improve sleep and mood, and therefore quality of life, so you can thrive, not just survive.
Breast Cancer Warriors Need a Community
When I was going through treatment, I had a few survivors sit down and coach me through those early days. They were really inspiring and let me see that breast cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence and that you can come out the other side. I didn’t really like to talk about it much at first because it’s a bit triggering, but if I can be that kind of support to someone else, then I can help others and that makes me feel good inside.
When fear can be overwhelming, the community of a supportive, good studio is especially important. It’s a safe space to feel good in your body, to leave feeling energized and uplifted. It’s a place to meet other survivors who inspire hope. If you’re going through treatment or recovering from treatment, try Pilates as part of your healing journey.
This month, for Breast Cancer Awareness month, I’m hosting an event for breast cancer warriors to unite. All are welcome, not just survivors, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in loving memory of Carol Tuthill*
