Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Many women with breast cancer need rehabilitation with a specialized physical therapist. Surgical interventions for breast cancer, such as a mastectomy or reconstructive surgery, can leave a woman with scars and soft tissue restrictions that can cause pain and limit upper body mobility and strength. Surgical intervention and adjuvant therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause lymphedema (swelling) in the arm, breast, and trunk.
A specially trained physical therapist can decrease or eliminate lymphedema with various techniques as well as instruct the woman to manage the condition independently. All of these changes can lead to a loss of function and decreased quality of life. Specialized physical therapy can successfully treat these impairments with manual treatment, compression bandaging and pumps, and an individualized home exercise program. Proper treatment can eliminate pain, restore mobility and strength, decrease or eliminate lymphedema, and restore vocational and recreational activity.