October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton

can effectively address side effects from breast cancer treatment

In addition to recognizing physical therapy with National Physical Therapy Month, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign intended to increase awareness of the disease and the screening tools and treatments available for it.

As the second most common type of cancer in women, breast cancer will affect 1 in 8 women at some point in their lives, and about 240,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton, FL would like to explain the assistance we can offer women during the recovery process from breast cancer treatment.

Many women diagnosed with breast cancer will go on to have some type of surgery, which may include a breast biopsy, lymph node biopsy or removal, lumpectomy, mastectomy or breast reconstruction, in addition to other treatments.  Following these surgeries and other treatments like radiation or chemotherapy, many patients experience pain and stiffness in the chest, shoulder and back muscles, as well as nerve irritation that can cause numbness, pain and a tingling sensation.  These issues are secondary complications from the treatments necessary to resolve the cancer, however the problems that they can cause for women can be resolved under the care of a skilled physical therapist.

Recovery will vary for each patient depending on the severity of their cancer and specific treatments used, but these side effects will often reduce flexibility and range of motion, which can prevent women from returning to their normal daily activities and significantly decrease their quality of life.  In addition, any woman that’s undergone various treatments and hospitalizations in their fight against cancer is usually very deconditioned due to lack of physical activity and will have additional difficulty functioning normally due to limited endurance and strength.

This is where we come in, as our physical therapists can perform expert evaluations to identify each patient’s rehabilitation needs based on their condition and the side effects they’re experiencing.  Once a patient is medically cleared for physical therapy—which usually occurs after adequate healing of an incision, if necessary—patients will undergo a program to increase their strength, range of motion and endurance so that they can go about their days more easily and with less pain. Most importantly, the patient will be able to return to their prior level of function, or maybe even better!   Some highlights of our program to address side effects associated with breast cancer treatment include:

• A series of basic exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the back, shoulder, chest and arms to prevent stiffness and reduce pain; the arms and shoulders are often particularly affected by treatment, and increased flexibility will help to improve posture and reduce pain
• A supervised, gradual return to exercise, which can also reduce nerve irritation and fatigue
• Targeted exercises to help reduce the risk for lymphedema, or chronic swelling that usually occurs in the arm on the same side of surgery
• A focused effort to help patients regain their independence in daily activities by simulating those that they may be having difficulty with

Recovering from breast cancer treatment on top of the breast cancer should be celebrated, and you should not be burdened with the physical side effects that it can cause. At Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida, FL it’s our goal to tend to any side effects you may be experiencing and help you return to your pre-treatment physical activity levels, ultimately “Helping You Move Without Pain.”  To find out more about our program for addressing side effects from breast cancer treatment or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 941-264-1414.