Services Include:

• compassionate care in a warm and supportive environment
• pre-operative and post-operative assessments in private treatment rooms
• education on the physical effects of breast cancer treatment and how to minimize post-treatment complications
• customized post-surgical rehabilitation programmes, based on the phase of breast cancer treatment, to restore range of motion, strength, aerobic capacity and function
• creation of individual home exercise programmes, with regular reassessment of progress and modification of the programme as needed
• instruction in scar mobilization techniques

Who Would Benefit?

Patients who have received medical treatment for breast cancer including:

• surgery (mastectomy, lumpectomy, axillary dissection)
• radiation
• chemotherapy
• hormonal therapy

Possible Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment:

Research has shown that a significant number of women experience physical side effects after breast cancer treatment, including:

• decreased upper extremity range of motion
• decreased upper extremity muscle strength
• decreased cardiopulmonary function
• soft tissue fibrosis
• fatigue
• axillary web syndrome
• sensory loss
• pain
• neuropraxia
• lymphedema

What can Physiotherapy do?

These possible side effects may be reduced with education and a customized, safe exercise programme designed by a knowledgeable physiotherapist.

Positive Effects of Exercise:

Research has shown the following positive effects of exercise after breast cancer surgery:

• improved quality of life
• improved cardiopulmonary function
• improved upper extremity range of motion
• improved upper extremity strength
• decreased fatigue
• improved venous and lymphatic flow
• improved functional abilities
• lower risk of death from breast cancer

References Supporting Rehabilitation for Breast Cancer Patients:

Box, R.C., Reul-Hirche, H.M., Bullock-Saxton, J.E., Furnival, C.M.: Shoulder movement after breast cancer surgery: results of a randomized controlled study of post-operative physiotherapy. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 75(1), 2002.

Harris, S.R., Campbell, K.L. and McNeely, M.L.: Upper extremity rehabilitation for women who have been treated for breast cancer.Physiotherapy Canada 56(4), 2004.

Dimeo, F.C., Rolf-Dieter, S., Ulrike, N., Festscher, S., Keul, J.: Effects of physical activity on the fatigue and psychologic status of cancer patients during chemotherapy. American Cancer Society 85, 1999.

Miller, L.T.: Exercise in the management of breast cancer-related lyphedema. Innovations in Breast Cancer Care 3(4), 1998.

Holmes, M. D., Chen, W. Y., Feskanich, D., Kroenke, C. H., Colditz, G. A.: Physical Activity and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Journal of the American Medical Association 293(20), 2005

Clinical Associate for Breast Cancer Rehabilitation:

Meghan Marley   B.Sc., B.P.H.E., M.Sc.(P.T.)

• Registered Physiotherapist
• post-graduate training in the rehabilitation of patients who have had breast cancer surgery