Thread: Student missing muscles....

I have a new student in class who recently had breast cancer. The doctors took a stomach muscle and a back muscle to use to repair the damage.

She seems to be doing fine and keeping up with the rest of the class, however she is concerned with not feeling anything in her stomach or the side of her back.

Any suggestions?

It may take a very long time for feeling to come back, if at all. She may have incurred permanent nerve removal or damage. Sounds like she had a pretty radical mastectomy. If she seems to be doing fine with her movements, great! Just continue to be supportive and encouraging. It is the type of thing that only time will tell the long term effects from her surgery. She is dancing and that is the best medicine of all! Give her my best.

it will take a substantial amount of time for her to have feeling again, nerves have been cut, and must heal. I'd say at least 6 months to start feeling again.

This thread on dancing after a c-section may have some relevant information:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2370

i don't know about the particulars of her serious surgery.

i do know that it took over a year for the feeling to come back after my minor surgery. and some of the nerves never quite came back to full feeling. and it was nothing as serious as hers.

susuabdo is absolutely right. only time will tell her extent of recovery. it is a blessing that she is able to dance. very inspirational

Either you or your student might find it useful to join the Yahoo group for belly dancers who are breast cancer survivors. The link is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group...?yguid=4580328 . Since these folks have had the surgeries, they can talk about what their experience has been with muscles and nerves.

Here's wishing her a complete recovery!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Either you or your student might find it useful to join the Yahoo group for belly dancers who are breast cancer survivors. The link is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group...?yguid=4580328 . Since these folks have had the surgeries, they can talk about what their experience has been with muscles and nerves.

Here's wishing her a complete recovery!

That is awesome to know there is that group Shira! Thanks I always like to have references like that. ..g.:

I had to have some stomach muscles reconstructed and it has taken over a year of belly dancing before I can feel any of those muscles & it has been 3 years post surgery. It will be slow, but tell her to keep at it and she will find her way!!!! Also the Yahoo group listed above will be tons of help!!!!