Breast Cancer and Recovery Today
Let's face it: when women hear about breast cancer, most of us feel a jolt of worry, because even with all of today's advanced medical treatments, so much comes down to how our body reacts and fights. But being human means staying hopeful, and medical science has pushed forward with better, more effective treatments.
According to statistics, in 2020 an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 48,530 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. Sixty-four percent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, for which the five-year survival rate is 99%. One in eight women, and one in a thousand men, will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of a lifetime, and survivorship is on the rise thanks to early detection and improvements in treatment.
Surgery, biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy, or reconstruction, is one of the most common treatments women undergo. Rehabilitation comes right after, and physical therapy is a central part of it.
Physical Therapy During Prehabilitation
Prehabilitation refers to the time before surgery and treatment begin, and physical therapy already plays a role during this phase, it can support both the psychological and physical outcome of treatment. During prehab, your physical therapist assesses you, evaluates and identifies possible impairments that may affect recovery (such as muscle weakness and pain), educates you on lymphedema and how to reduce your risk of developing it, and establishes an exercise program you fully understand and can follow before and after surgery.
Physical Therapy After Surgery
After the operation, your physical therapist's goal is to reduce the side effects of the treatment you've had. It's common to find it difficult or painful to lift your arm above your head or behind your back, and physical therapy exercises are designed to restore these movements and reduce pain.
This is where your PT applies your exercise plan, which may include treatment for lymphedema, most commonly manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, and self-care, and postural drainage, which focuses on addressing changes in posture through postural exercises and ergonomics.
Tips for a Safe Recovery
Your physical therapist will help guide your exercise throughout every phase of cancer treatment, before, during, and after surgery, because it plays such an important role in eliminating treatment side effects. Physical therapists also encourage patients recovering from breast surgery to talk with their doctor first; never start an exercise plan or physical therapy without medical clearance. Breathe, since breathing helps ease pain and reduce stress. Never exercise cold muscles, always warm up first, start slowly, and gradually increase your movement. Consider performing arm movements during or just after a warm shower, and always drink plenty of water, since hydration matters just as much during recovery.
One of the things post-surgery patients fear most is simply taking a walk. But post-surgery fitness isn't just about moving the affected area, a brisk walk every day is good for the heart and increases blood flow, which promotes healing. These are basic tips, but they matter enormously for a full recovery.