Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women
Physical Therapy & Chemotherapy
- Individualized exercise programs, maintain healthy body weight
- Decrease fatigue levels, joint pain & overall weakness from treatment
- Neuropathy management (nerve damage)
- Improve cardiovascular fitness
- Reduce stress & anxiety
Surgery, Reconstruction and Radiotherapy
- Pre-operative assessment, education and guidelines to minimize dysfunctions post-surgery
- Postural education and pain management
- Range of motion & shoulder mobility restoration
- Stretching tight structures/muscles
- Strengthening weakened muscles
- Restrictions, precautions & contraindications to physical activity/exercise
- Progressive core/abdominal strengthening
- Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS) prevention and management
Axillary Web Syndrome, also known as “cording”
- Rope-like structures under armpit, sometimes extending to elbow, wrist or palm of hand
- Can appear several days, weeks or months after surgery
- May limit range of movement & treatment restrictions for radiation therapy
- Specialized physiotherapy techniques used for treatment
Breast Cancer & Hormonal Therapy
- Hormonal therapy such as: Tamoxifen, Anastrozole (Arimidex), Exemestane (Aromasin), Letrozole (Femera), Goserelin (Zoladex) can lower estrogen levels
- Estrogen protects a women’s bones and prevents a breakdown leading to osteopenia (reduced bone mass) or osteoporosis (bones become brittle and fragile)
- Other cancer-related treatment can cause early menopause (ex. oophorectomy, chemotherapy)
- Women with osteoporosis have a higher chance of breaking a bone (or fracturing)
Physical Therapy for women receiving Hormonal Therapy:
- Bone mineral density evaluation
- Postural assessment, education and exercises
- Individualized exercise program and cardio program to minimize bone loss and keep bones strong
- Osteopenia and/or osteoporosis education, prevention and management
- Fracture education & prevention techniques
- Osteoporosis Canada guidelines-Bone fit program