According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

Fortunately, more women than ever are surviving breast cancer, and with advances in early detection and treatment, and with breast cancer rehabilitation, we see patients living long, full lives well beyond cancer. 

Why is Breast Cancer Rehabilitation important?

Breast cancer and its treatments, including surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy, and reconstruction), chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy, are associated with a wide range of physical and emotional side effects.

While some of the physical side effects do resolve on their own with time, most are long-lasting and can have a significant impact on your quality of life, function, and well-being. 

However, cancer-related side effects are not something that you need to learn to live with. A physical or occupational therapist specialized in breast cancer rehab can help!

How Breast Cancer Rehabilitation can help

Physical or occupational therapy is proven to play an important role in your recovery from breast cancer, from diagnosis to survivorship. 

Whether you are newly diagnosed, are undergoing active cancer treatments, or you completed your treatments years ago, breast cancer rehabilitation can help to improve your overall quality of life and well-being. 

Before Cancer Treatments  

A therapist specialized in breast cancer rehabilitation can help you prepare both physically and mentally for your upcoming cancer treatments so that you can optimize your healing and recovery.  

During your initial appointment with your specialized therapist, a comprehensive movement and posture assessment will be performed to establish your baseline range of motion, flexibility, strength, and arm circumferential measurements.

Once your functional limitations and needs are identified, you will then work together to optimize your overall health and physical well-being with the use of:

• hands-on therapy

• targeted exercises

• relaxation techniques

• breathwork

• lymphedema risk reduction principles

Prior to your surgery, your therapist will also provide you with key exercises to perform after your breast surgery, so that you can feel better sooner. Your therapist will also provide you with education about your upcoming surgery and answers to any of your questions. 

During & After Cancer Treatments 

Based on what procedures and treatments you underwent in order to manage or eradicate your breast cancer diagnosis, you may experience a wide variety of cancer-related symptoms and conditions, including: 

• Pain

• Chest tightness 

• Decreased shoulder and arm movement

• Scar tissue restrictions 

• Axillary web syndrome (cording)

• Swelling, seroma and arm/breast lymphedema 

• Postural dysfunctions

• Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome 

• Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome 

• Cancer-Related Fatigue

• Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

• Weakness

• Brain Fog

• Joint stiffness

• Weight gain

• Pelvic floor dysfunctions 

A therapist specialized in breast cancer rehab can help you to overcome any of these cancer-related side effects, so that you can maximize your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, both during and after cancer treatments. 

What to Expect

After getting to know you and your story, your specialized physical or occupational therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan to address your unique needs and goals.

Then using an integrative whole-body treatment approach, your therapist will use a variety of hand-on therapy techniques to alleviate your pain, improve your scar mobility and restore your upper extremity movement, flexibility, strength, and much more!

Your therapist will also provide you with individualized therapeutic exercises to further help with your recovery and goals. With expert guidance, exercises such as Yoga and Pilates can also be a very useful tool in your healing process. 

Your one-on-one sessions with your therapist, may include a combination of:

• Scar mobilization 

• Soft tissue mobilization techniques 

• Myofascial release techniques

• Manual therapy

• Manual lymphatic drainage 

• Therapeutic exercises 

• Breathwork and relaxation techniques 

• Energy conservation techniques 

• Education on self-care practices and lymphedema risk reduction principles

Who should consult in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation?

If you are experiencing ANY side effect related to your breast cancer treatments, then breast cancer rehabilitation is right for you. 

We cannot stress just how important it is for you to advocate for yourself, so that you can get the care needed to live well beyond breast cancer. We are dedicated to providing you with care, support and guidance, so that you can reclaim your health and well-being, during every stage of your cancer journey.