Physical Therapy and Breast Cancer

Physical Therapy post breast cancer treatment is important for many.
Ideal is a Physical Therapy evaluation prior to treatment/surgery to know one's baseline and
corrective exercises for problems one might not have known where there. (Although it seems
that a pre treatment PT eval is not usually done.)

ALWAYS obtain the referral for Physical Therapy from your surgeon/reconstruction surgeon.
If you had post op reconstruction, be sure to involve your reconstructive surgeon in any Physical
Therapy referral.
If you are several years post treatment and only seeing your medical oncologist, discuss the
PT referral with medical oncologist.

The following slideshow is from 2006.
Thus, there will be some updated information that is not included.
3 special notes:
        1. There are a few post mastectomy chests without reconstruction pictures.
        2.   The diagram of a radiation position appears to be different from current positions.
               Now, there are usually arm rests/supports for both arms and not just one
               as shown in a slide.    
        3.   Most do not get treatment related lymphedema.
               There are several slides on lymphedema due to the physical therapist's role in both
               lymphedema risk education and treatment IF it occurs.
http://www.slideserve.com/skip/physical-therapy-intervention-in-the-patient-with-breast-cancer


Although the following is from Breast Free (an alternative to reconstruction)
http://www.breastfree.org/viewer.php?num=7
there is some good general information on Physical Therapy for post any breast surgery.
              

If you have not returned to your baseline shoulder/arm functioning, consider discussing a Physical
Therapy referral with your provider. It is important to see a Physical Therapist who has experience
in the evaluation and treatment of breast surgery patients.



With caring and healing thoughts,
Grateful for today............Judy


Note: If one is looking for information specifically on lymphedema, that thread link is:
           http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/lymphedema_topic9360.html

Edited by Grateful for today - Jun 23 2013 at 12:49pm