Our specialists are here to support you after your breast cancer treatment.
Following breast cancer treatment, you may encounter a few complications which can be managed with physiotherapy. Your initial assessment will help us agree a rehabilitation schedule that is tailored to your individual goals to get you back to your everyday activities and sports. Physiotherapy treatment may include joint mobilisations, myofascial release, lymphatic massage, stretches, range of movement exercises, hydrotherapy and a functional exercise and/or pilates programme.
If you are due to have radiotherapy after your surgery, it is important you can achieve and maintain the correct arm position in time to start this stage of your cancer treatment. If you are having difficulty with your arm movement after your operation, physiotherapy can help with preparing you for your initial radiotherapy planning appointment.
You are able to self-refer for our physiotherapy appointments and are welcome to call our team on 01633 820 321 for further details about our treatments.
Cording (Axillary web syndrome) – As your body heals following treatment for breast cancer, sometimes bands of tissue can form in your armpit or down your arm that look and feel like taut strings. This called ‘cording’ or Axillary Web Syndrome. It is not fully understood why this happens but it is thought to be due to damage to the lymphatic and vascular vessels as a consequence of surgery. Cording may restrict your shoulder mobility and cause pain when stretching your arm. It responds well to manual therapy techniques and stretches to restore shoulder mobility and function.
Pain and stiffness – Some discomfort is usual after any surgery and there may be some skin soreness after radiotherapy but if your pain is severe or persistent, you should seek advice. Your physiotherapist will assess you to find the cause of your pain and can agree the best course of action with you.
Lymphoedema – Following surgery or radiotherapy to the armpit, you are at a higher risk of developing lymphoedema. This is swelling caused by a build-up of lymph fluid in the tissues. If you notice persistent or excessive swelling, we can help you manage the swelling with manual lymphatic drainage.
Best practice guidelines for breast cancer management recommend input to manage early lymphoedema. Being a chronic condition, early intervention is encouraged for the best outcome.
Lack of strength and general deconditioning - Following surgery, you may experience decreased muscle strength in your arm and find that you have generally deconditioned. This is a particular problem if you have had radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, meaning your cancer treatment has taken place over a long period of time. Your physiotherapist will develop a bespoke rehabilitation programme that will be considerate of your cancer journey but will look to you getting back to full fitness.
You will have an initial assessment where we can take time to establish the main areas that we can work on and agree timed goals to achieve the improvments. These goals may be short, intermediate, or long term dependent on where you are at in your journey and what treatments you've already had. All appointments are 1 hour with our specialist breast care physiotherapist.
We have established infection control measures in place to protect our staff and patients when visiting the hospital. We want your visit to St Joseph's Hospital to feel safe and welcoming. If you have any concerns around this, please feel comfortable to contact our team on 01633 820 321.