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Pre- and post-surgical breast care program
Breast cancer is a common cancer among women. Current treatment interventions
including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have continued to increase
the survival rate. Despite the success rate of these procedures, patients may
experience physical changes following them. These physical complications
may include scar tissue formation, myofascial pain, decrease in arm range and
motion, and lymphedema. These complications may interfere with normal daily
activities.
Experienced staff
Aurora BayCare Center breast care program is staffed with physical and
occupational therapists who are specially trained to meet the needs of women or
men going through breast surgery. Our program strives to provide effective and
compassionate care.
Individualized treatment
In order to provide the individualized treatment to each patient, the program
involves a comprehensive evaluation done pre-operatively and approximately four
weeks post-operatively. Benefits of these evaluations include early detection of
problems as they occur to allow quick return to normal activities with less
limitations.
Pre-surgically
During the course of pre-surgical testing, patients are seen for a physical
or occupational therapy evaluation. The comprehensive evaluation includes:
- Past medical history
- Social history including home and job responsibilities
- Posture
- Range of motion of the neck and arm
- Strength
- Circumferential measurements of both arms - to get a baseline for post
surgical swelling comparison
This pre-surgical session also includes education for:
- Guidelines for activity after surgery
- Activity and exercise precautions
Post-surgically
Patients return at approximately four weeks after surgery for a re-evaluation
of:
- Activity level and any residual limitations in activity
- Posture
- Range of motion
- Circumferential arm measurements to compare to pre-surgical level
- Sensation
- Scar/surgical incision
- Strength
Education at that session includes:
- Modification of the exercise program, based on remaining limitations.
Progression to strengthening to allow return to normal activities
- Scar massage and mobilization
- Lymphedema prevention and precaution strategies
If activity limitations, limitations in arm motion, pain, and/or edema are
present, further follow-up therapy may be recommended. The therapists are
available as additional resources to answer any questions they may have
concerning their surgery and condition. An evaluation may be repeated during the
course of cancer treatment to determine any new problems or limitations that may
develop during or post radiation treatment, or with scar-tissue maturation.
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