BREAST CANCER REHAB

Breast Cancer Rehabilitation

Achieving the best possible outcome for breast cancer requires an interprofessional team including surgeons, nursing, radiation oncology, medical oncology, physiotherapy, pathology and others. This multifaceted approach has improved outcomes and quality of life for breast cancer patients as the management continues to evolve over the years. Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer among women in Canada with one in eight women expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime. 

Physiotherapy Role in Breast Cancer Rehab

Physiotherapists play an important role in treating clients through diagnosis all the way to post-surgery helping to manage several issues in each stage of rehabilitation including: 

  1. Prehabilitation:
    • Pre-surgery prep
    • Education
    • Exercise prescription
  2. Post surgical:
    • Management of lymphedema, seroma/hematomas
    • Treatment of scar tissue formation, radiation fibrosis and cording/axillary web syndrome
    • Treatment of shoulder immobility
    • Improving upper extremity weakness and reduced function
    • Improving generalized deconditioning
    • Addressing radiation or chemotherapy related treatment concerns/issues 
    • Management of neuropathic, musculoskeletal and chronic pain
  3. Ongoing education and support for the patient and their support network

Breast Cancer Rehab - Maybelle Murphy

Led by veteran physiotherapist Maybelle Murphy, Nomad Therapies can provide therapeutic assistance to address these post surgical issues and thereby contribute to improvements in quality of life for breast cancer patients. Maybelle has been working as a physiotherapist on a multidisciplinary team with breast cancer patients for more than 10 years in the Saskatoon Health Region. Nomad Therapies is thrilled to offer her knowledge, leadership and capacities to the community.