Swimming can be great exercise after mastectomy or lumpectomy surgery for breast cancer. But for some people, returning to the pool after a surgical procedure that changed how their body looks or feels can be daunting.

Here are some tips for when and how swimming can benefit you as you recover from breast cancer surgery, as well as ways to overcome potential issues.

When Can You Swim After Breast Cancer Surgery?

First things first: You may be wondering when it’s safe to swim following surgery. It’s always best to ask your surgeon, oncologist, or healthcare provider how long you should wait before doing certain activities, including swimming, after you have had surgery.

In general, you should wait to swim or soak in a pool, ocean, or hot tub until your incisions have healed and your surgeon says it’s OK. This may be at least three weeks after surgery, but your timing may be different. You may need to wait longer if you still have drains, stitches, open skin, or slow-healing wounds.

Your oncology specialist may also advise against swimming during breast cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can make your immune system less able to fight potential infection from germs in water.

Additionally, radiation therapy can cause skin reactions that chlorine or other pool chemicals may irritate.

If you are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, or if you have a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) or a Hickman line, ask your treatment team before swimming.

Tips for Swimming After Breast Cancer Surgery

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you look forward to swimming after surgery.

If you were an avid swimmer before surgery, you may notice that you feel weaker and your joints feel stiff as you get back into the pool. It may take some time to build your strength back up and increase your range of motion, especially if your surgery involved a procedure in the armpit.

Fortunately, swimming can offer gentle stretching and resistance to help you regain your fitness. Regular physical activity is encouraged after breast cancer surgery, but your exercise plan should be based on your recovery and needs. If you swim laps, start in the slow lane and be patient.

If you find swimming difficult at first, consider using modifications such as floats or fins until you gain strength and comfort in the water. You can also rest your arms on a kickboard. Keep in mind that if you experience peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) in your fingers as a side effect of breast cancer treatment, it may be harder to grip floats.

Some pools offer women-only classes or single-gender swim sessions. If you feel anxious about the way your body looks as you return to the pool, consider seeking out such a session.

Putting on a swimsuit can bring up difficult feelings about the ways breast cancer has changed your body. Being comfortable in a swimsuit — with or without breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, or breast implants — takes time for many members of MyBCTeam.

“I wore a swimming boob the first couple of times I went swimming,” wrote one member. “Now, I just go without it. I feel a bit uncomfortable, but my husband tells me to think of it as a ‘teaching moment’ if anybody asks.”

Support from family, friends, and MyBCTeam members helps people who’ve undergone breast cancer treatment become more comfortable with the physical changes they’ve experienced.

“When we were at the beach, I was so nervous about having a swimming suit on due to the fact you could see my scars,” one member wrote. “My daughter told me to be proud of them. She said, ‘It shows that you are a fighter and a survivor of breast cancer.’ She has really helped me through this.”

A MyBCTeam member encouraged their teammates with a similar message: “My scars are part of my story and, so far, survival. Our breasts don’t define us any more than the size of our feet does.”

One second member wrote to a third, “I think you should proudly strut your stuff in whatever bathing suit makes you smile, because A, you’re insanely beautiful — scars and all, and B, the only person who will be aware of that scar is you.”

Whether you’re embracing your scars or covering them, going flat or choosing to wear a breast form, finding a swimsuit that fits and flatters your changed body can be an adventure. Fortunately, swimsuit styles are more varied than ever, and many online stores offer styles designed for people who have undergone breast cancer surgery.

If you want to cover scarring, try higher necklines and armholes. Adjustable straps can help ensure a good fit.

Many brands design mastectomy swimwear with built-in bra pockets to secure a prosthetic silicone breast form, for those who haven’t had reconstruction. Some brands will even sew in a pocket for free.

One MyBCTeam member offered the following advice for finding bathing suits following breast cancer surgery: “Google ‘mastectomy shops’ in your area — they sell lots of swimsuits now, along with the bras, tops, etc. They are made to hold the prosthetic — you can hardly tell.”

Another member said they buy regular bathing suits with a seam around the breast area and a small side opening in which they can insert a breast prosthesis. They said the seam helps keep the prosthesis in place. “I do this with my bras, too,” they added.

If you decide to wear a breast prosthesis, one member offered some guidance: “Make sure they are well secured in your suit. I once read about a [prosthetic breast] that liberated itself during a water aerobics class. I kept waiting for that to happen during a water aerobics class I occasionally attend.”

This member noted that they weren’t too concerned, however: “Given that it’s a class of 24 women, I’m sure there are BC survivors among them.”

Typically, chlorinated water, salt water, heat, and sunlight generally won’t damage silicone breast forms. However, you should wash the forms by hand and keep them dry between uses. You can also use silicone or foam leisure prostheses for swimming if you rinse them well afterward.

Water buoys the body during swimming, so swimming is not a weight-bearing exercise. That means swimming alone isn’t enough to preserve bone mass. Ask your doctor about adding weight-bearing activities to your fitness routine.

Examples may include walking or light strength exercises, depending on your recovery, bone health, and treatment plan. Your doctor may recommend adding strength-building exercises later and increasing them slowly.

The Benefits of Swimming After Breast Cancer Surgery

Swimming is a great way to fit some exercise into your routine. Here are four benefits of swimming after breast cancer surgery.

Some research suggests aquatic exercise may help with fatigue and certain types of pain in breast cancer survivors, but the evidence is still limited. Just be sure to get the OK from your doctor before you jump back into the pool.

Some members of MyBCTeam have shared how swimming helps them recover from surgery. “I have found a great way to help with chest tightness and stretches six months after double mastectomy, no reconstruction. Swimming!” a member shared. “It’s made a world of difference.”

Another member wrote, “I really find swimming helpful with postsurgery tightness.”

One study found that aquatic exercise may help reduce pain and arm swelling in some people with breast cancer-related lymphedema (lymph fluid buildup and swelling). Clinical guidance also supports exercise as part of care for people at risk for or living with early-stage lymphedema.

If you have lymphedema, ask your doctor, physical therapist, or lymphedema specialist what precautions to take before swimming.

Some MyBCTeam members have reported that swimming helps. “Daily swimming seems to be reversing my lymphedema!” wrote one member. “Fingers crossed.”

Exercise in general is beneficial for many people during and after breast cancer treatment. Research on aquatic exercise suggests it may improve quality of life for some people with breast cancer. If swimming is a physical activity you enjoy, getting back to it may help you feel more like yourself.

“We’re lucky to have our own pool, and I’m beginning to reap the benefits,” shared one MyBCTeam member. “It’s making a huge difference to my life and general fitness. I’m sleeping better, and those reconstructed little girlies are settling in the right places at last. I’m not a natural swimmer, but it’s helping, so I’ll keep at it.”

Another member rejoiced when they were able to return to their favorite exercise: “Today, I went swimming, and I can actually do laps again! My form is lopsided (nerve damage from mastectomy), but it’s fun. I feel grateful that I can do this stuff again.”

Join the Conversation

On MyBCTeam, people share their experiences with breast cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

If you’ve gone swimming after breast cancer surgery, what helped you feel safe and comfortable? Let others know in the comments below.