1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is also the second leading cause of death in women in the United States. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, claiming thousands of women’s lives each year and affecting most countries. The good news is, death rates from breast cancer have been declining since 1990 due to better screening and early detection, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment options.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of this annual campaign is to increase awareness of breast cancer – its causes, prevention, traditional treatment options and the latest advances in treatment options. During October, various foundations, groups, companies, and people come together to raise money and support women who have been impacted by the effects of breast cancer.
Cancer Free to Pain Free
There has been major shift in the mindset of society with success not being measured as “cancer free” but also returning back to a “pain free active lifestyle”. With this emerging mind set, physical therapists serve as valuable members of a multidisciplinary breast cancer team. Physical therapy plays a major role in rehabilitation both before, during, after breast cancer treatment. The physical therapist can perform a pre-surgical screening before the breast cancer treatment to gather baseline information, regarding functional status, which will assist the therapist in designing an individualized treatment program after breast cancer surgery. The screen will also serve as a valuable reference for the therapist as the patient undergoes chemotherapy, radiation, and initial and reconstructive therapies.
Surgery, Radiation Therapy, and Chemo Brain
Like any surgery, lumpectomy and mastectomy are often followed with post-operative complications. Unfortunately, pain, swelling, lymphedema and decreased range of motion after surgical procedures are common, but working with a rehabilitation specialist before and after the procedure can positively impact functionality and decreased pain levels as the patient recovers.
After surgery, physical therapy helps the patient to restore mobility, manage pain, limit and reduce lymphedema, improve function and help patients get back to normal life.
Patients undergoing radiation therapy often experience tightening of skin, fascia and muscles. Physical therapy can help improve these experiences through various stretching exercises, manual therapy, and patient education to manage and improve flexibility.
Many breast cancer patients suffer from ‘chemo brain’, a feeling of ‘fogginess’ or difficulty with thinking and memory that can occur after breast cancer treatment. Physical therapy can aide these symptoms as exercise significantly improves attention and memory in breast cancer patients.
Complications From Treatment
Physical Therapy can help patients manage delayed complications, as well. Complications like lymphedema can present within a few years or even several years post breast cancer treatment. Although there is no cure for lymphedema, physical therapists can help normalize the size of the arm and help reduce the risk of infection. A physical therapist can also prescribe compression garments to maintain comfort and reduced arm girth.
Another major complaint by breast cancer patients is fatigue. Roughly 90 percent of patients have reported feelings of fatigue, even years after completing treatment. Regular sessions with a physical therapist can help build strength and incrementally build endurance through a periodized exercise progression plan.
We Are Here to Help!
Physical therapy has changed the outcomes for patients with breast cancer. It is important to remember that the goal of the multidisciplinary approach is to help breast cancer patients “live” and not just survive!
If you’re interested in learning more, or making an appointment with a Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist, please contact the Spooner team today. We have convenient locations throughout the Valley and are here to help you in your recovery journey.