An awareness-month campaign for breast cancer survivors and the people who train them. The goal: every survivor finds someone who can train her safely, and every coach knows how.
Strength after breast cancer is built..
by measuring, not guessing.
before we train.
Every day in Egypt, 71 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
new cases every year
of new cancers in women — the most common in Egypt
women living after diagnosis, within the last 5 years
GLOBOCAN 2024 · IARC/WHO, Egypt fact sheet
“Don’t lift anything heavy”
One study changed it.
141 survivors with stable lymphedema lifted weights for a full year, twice a week, progressing very slowly and under supervision.
Arm swelling
Didn’t increase
Muscle strength
Increased
Flare-ups
14% vs 29%
With conditions: very slow progression, specialist supervision, and a compression sleeve if the doctor advises. And it’s not a promise of prevention.
Schmitz et al., N Engl J Med 2009
Rehab is part of care..
not a luxury.
Progressive exercise is safe, with proven benefits for fatigue, strength and quality of life.
Exercise rehab is not treatment, and it doesn’t replace the treating physician or the physiotherapist. It’s a complementary link in care: it starts after the doctor’s approval and runs in coordination with the treating team.
A free guide..
from the first assessment to the last session.
Traffic lights before every session, what each treatment means in the gym, assessment and progression, lymphedema, and what to say to your client.. in plain language.
When in doubt, stop.
Ask her at the start of every session: “How are you feeling today?”.. and the light decides.
Stop and refer her to the doctor
Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fever, or sudden swelling in an arm or leg
Lower the intensity and volume
Unusual fatigue, the days after a chemo dose, or mild heaviness in the arm
Program as planned
Stable symptoms, the arm unchanged, fatigue within its usual range
Say this.. not that
“Today we go at your pace — that’s part of the plan.”
“You’re a warrior, you have to push through!”
“Hard days are normal; what matters is we keep going.”
“Just rest, don’t tire yourself out.”
“That’s an important question — let’s ask your doctor.”
“Try this supplement, it boosts immunity.”
“How does your arm feel after this exercise?”
Any comment on weight, hair or body shape
Before you start training..
we measure.
- 01We talk first: the treatment you’ve finished, what’s still ongoing, and your doctor’s approval.
- 02We measure: shoulder range of motion and arm strength with the SIA Dyno, comparing both sides.
- 03A progressive program: built around you, and re-measured so we see progress in numbers.
Dr. Hosam Zidan
Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Health Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Capital University. Head of Rehabilitation for the Egyptian National Olympic Weightlifting Team, and inventor of the SIA Dyno for measuring muscle strength.
“We measure before we train, and we build strength on evidence, not guesswork.”
Frequently asked
Is the doctor’s approval needed first?
Yes. Any exercise program after breast cancer needs the treating physician’s approval first — it’s the first item in the guide and the first step of the assessment.
Is exercise safe with lymphedema?
In studies, slowly progressed, supervised weight training did not increase swelling in women with stable lymphedema. But with conditions: very slow progression, specialist supervision, and a compression sleeve if the doctor advises. And it’s not a promise of prevention.
Is the guide really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up. Download it and share it with anyone who trains survivors.
Who can use the guide?
Rehab specialists, coaches and physiotherapists who train breast cancer survivors. The guide helps you work safely; it doesn’t replace the doctor.
Where is the assessment done?
At The Sports Doctor Lab. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll arrange the nearest branch and a time.
October ends..
the work goes on.