October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Each October is a time to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness. As a team of physical therapists, we want to not only take time to show our support to those who have been impacted by breast cancer, but also to raise awareness for early detection, high-quality treatment, and to highlight the role that physical therapy can play in someone’s breast cancer journey. Many might not be aware, but physical therapy can play a vital role in a patient’s recovery from breast cancer. This blog post will highlight the top 5 ways physical therapy can be beneficial:

Number One: Movement & Postural Restoration  

Many of the medical treatments for breast cancer, including radiation and surgeries to the chest wall, can create a significant amount of soft tissue restrictions in the shoulders and chest. These restrictions often make usual daily activities far more challenging and uncomfortable, and result in abnormal postures. For example, brushing your hair or reaching overhead to get your coffee mug in the morning might become more difficult. Many patients report stiffness in their arms, upper back and chest after breast cancer treatments, and functional limitations as a result. Physical therapy can be very beneficial at targeting these soft tissue restrictions with focused manual (or hands-on) therapies, postural education, specific therapeutic exercises, and more. By participating in these interventions consistently, many patients can see an improvement in their mobility and have less difficulties with daily activities. 

Many patients may experience something known as axillary web syndrome (AWS) or cording after undergoing breast cancer surgeries. Cording occurs when very tight, rope-like bands of tissue form under the skin due to the removal of lymph nodes. They become very noticeable when reaching overhead or to the side, creating tightness or discomfort. As a result, daily activities can become very limited. Physical therapy can also be very helpful in addressing cording by helping to improve the tightness in the tissues and reduce difficulties with reaching. 

Number Two: Gaining Back Strength and Endurance… and Balance! 

While focused cancer treatments help to attack the cancer, they can have a negative impact on a patient’s

strength and endurance. Many report poor conditioning and a lack of stamina after chemotherapy, radiation, and often multiple surgeries. Physical therapy can not only help to improve and optimize functional movements but can also help a patient regain their strength and endurance. We often develop strength and conditioning programs that are designed around a patient’s specific and personal goals. We want all our patients to feel confident and comfortable in achieving their daily activities, therefore, treatment is designed around the patient and what THEY want to achieve. 

As a patient’s strength improves, we also focus on improving their balance and stability to ensure they are safe with their functional activities. Many do not think of how balance may be impacted by breast cancer treatments. Chemotherapy treatments may result in a condition known as peripheral neuropathy, which creates altered sensation (numbness/tingling) in the feet due to altered nerve function. As a result, a patient often experiences balance disturbances, muscle weakness, altered coordination, and more. Also, some medications prescribed during treatment can cause dizziness and other side effects that might impact someone’s stability. During physical therapy, a patient’s baseline balance function will be assessed, and a focused treatment plan will be created following. It is important to gain back strength, endurance, and balance during a single course of physical therapy to improve functional tolerance and optimize safety with daily activities to reduce the risk of falls! 

Number Three: Reducing Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported symptoms by patients recovery from breast cancer. It can make daily tasks feel impossible and can make recovery feel far more overwhelming. Many of the interventions in physical therapy can boost energy levels and reduce the feelings of heavy fatigue caused by cancer treatments. Physical therapy is focused on findings interventions that work WITH the patient, not against them. We strive to find a program that helps a patient work within a limit that is comfortable for them and gradually progress beyond once they feel ready to. While fatigue is common, it often improves with time! 

Number Four: Improving Breathing Mechanics

Due to the soft tissue restrictions created by breast cancer treatments and surgeries, breathing can become more challenging. Not only can physical therapy provide manual therapies and focused exercises to reduce these restrictions, but we also utilize a wide variety of relaxation techniques and strategies to make breathing more comfortable. One of the most commonly prescribed exercises is diaphragmatic breathing (or belly breathing). This exercise helps to gently mobilize the diaphragm muscle, which is often restricted after treatment, and restores efficient, relaxed breathing patterns. It also helps loosen some of the soft tissue restrictions, can help regulate a hypersensitive nervous system (which is very common after long, extensive treatments), and further reduce cancer-related fatigue. Cancer is stressful… and this breathing may help in more ways than one! 

Number Five: Support & Confidence

We want to help EMPOWER and support our patients through EVERY stage of their treatment and recovery. We not only want to deliver a patient effective treatments, but we also want to help them regain confidence and be as independent as possible. Working towards meaningful goals that are oriented to the patient is most important. We want all of our patients to feel their best and do all of the things they wish by the time their course of PT is complete! 

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we recognize the strength of all those who have battled breast cancer and we want to show our support… during October and beyond! While everyone has a different recovery, a patient should never face its challenges alone! Empower PT is here to help!