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Breast Cancer and Physical Therapy

By: Vickie Rainville, PT, DPT


October is not only National Physical Therapy Month but also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which looks a little different for me this year. On Halloween, it will be one year since my biopsy that diagnosed my own breast cancer. Now that I am on the other side of treatment, my passion to help everyone I can through their own journeys has only grown stronger.


No matter where you are along your journey, physical therapy can help you. Once you have been diagnosed and have chosen the treatment and care team that work best for you, you can also come see me for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss how I can best assist you along your journey.


If your path takes you to surgery as the first line of treatment, it is beneficial to come in before the operation for what we call “prehab.” This allows us to establish baseline measures of your range of motion, strength, posture, and limb volume before any changes occur after the procedure. If we identify weaknesses or deficits, you can benefit from physical therapy to ensure you go into the operation in better overall condition.


After surgery, most surgeons may not mention physical therapy. In fact, my surgeon did not bring it up until I brought it to their attention. Every woman (or man) who undergoes any type of surgery (including lumpectomy) can experience scarring, pain, soft tissue tightness, and postural changes afterward that do not always heal on their own. This is where a physical therapist trained in cancer rehabilitation comes in. This is especially important if your next phase of treatment includes radiation, as you may need to be in a prolonged position with your arm over your head. If scarring, pain, and tissue tightness limit your ability to raise your arm, you may not tolerate the positioning required for radiation. This means you could benefit from physical therapy visits before radiation begins.


As you progress further along your cancer journey, there will be tissue changes resulting from the surgery itself and, notably, from radiation. Radiation not only kills cancer cells but also alters how normal skin functions, potentially leading to tight areas (called radiation fibrosis) that can persist for many years and cause pain and restriction in the joints and tissues at both the entry and exit sites of the radiation beam. I once worked with a client who came in with low back pain and tingling in her foot that resolved after a few weeks of addressing the restrictions she still had across her chest, trunk, and low back from her double mastectomy 15 years prior.


In an article released this year, evidence showed that a survivor's quality of life improves with the addition of physical activity. Reducing anxiety and stress is equally important, and this too can be enhanced through physical activity. The risk of cancer recurrence and mortality also decreases significantly with physical activity. One study found a 24% reduction in the recurrence of disease and a 45% reduction in mortality for women with stage I-III breast cancers, as well as a 40% reduction in recurrence and a 63% reduction in mortality for stage III colon cancer (in both men and women).


Regardless of the path you have taken on your journey, know that the road to a better quality of life can include physical therapy, and I would be honored to help you along that path. Please call A Step Ahead Physical Therapy at 770-998-6636 to schedule a free consult or an evaluation. You can also email me at vickie@asaphysicaltherapy.com



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vickie Rainville has been practicing physical therapy since 2000 with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University then received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2010, also from Sacred Heart. Vickie also holds a Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from Springfield College. Vickie's practice blends a unique combination of skills developed through her experiences as a physical therapist and an athletic trainer. In addition to practicing in outpatient, skilled nursing, and home health settings, she also brings many years of field and clinic experience in high school and collegiate athletics. Her clinical strengths include manual therapy, orthopedics, sports medicine, geriatrics, neurological care, women’s health, and post-breast cancer rehabilitation.


References:

Agussalim, N, et. Al. Physical activity and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Breast Dis. 2024; 43(1): 161–171.


Brown, J and Glimore, L.A. Physical Activity Reduces The Risk of Recurence and Mortality in Cancer Patients. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2020 Apr; 48(2): 67–73.


Nepon, H et. Al. Radiation-Induced Tissue Damage: Clinical Consequences and Current Treatment Options. Semin Plast Surg. 2021 Aug; 35(3): 181–188.








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