Undergoing a mastectomy is a traumatic experience for most women. The removal of a breast or both breasts to cancer, however, is the first step in recovery. The next step is physical therapy, recommended by your physician after surgery with a physiotherapist trained in oncology. Arm and shoulder movements may be difficult, and physical therapy can help you to regain movement so that you can continue your usual activities of daily living. There are some exercises that cannot be done until any sutures and drains have been removed and some that you will be able to do with care soon after surgery.
Benefits
Strengthening the affected arm or arms after surgery will help you to perform normal activities, like grocery shopping or lifting children, more quickly. Lack of exercise after surgery can lead to musculoskeletal problems and imbalances, according to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Certain chemotherapy drugs given before surgery can induce early menopause, which puts you at increased risk of osteoporosis, and therefore at increased risk of fracture. If this is the case, it is vital to strengthen the muscles and bones of the hips, wrists and back to help prevent fracture.
Concerns
It is normal to feel tightness in your armpit or chest after surgery, reports the American Cancer Society. Your nerves may also be irritated by the surgery, leading to tingling, soreness and numbness in your chest wall and the back of your arm. This feeling may increase for weeks after surgery, but unless you experience more swelling or tenderness than is usual (in which case you should notify your doctor), the American Cancer Society recommends that you should continue with your exercise program, as it will help relieve these symptoms.
Types
There are a number of types of exercises that your physiotherapist may recommend. Examples including exercises performed while you are lying down, such as the wand exercise and elbow winging; exercises while you are sitting, like the shoulder blade stretch and the shoulder blade squeeze; and exercises while you are standing, such as the chest wall stretch and the shoulder stretch. All of these exercises are illustrated on the American Cancer Society website. The website recommends that if you have swelling, pain, headaches, dizziness, tingling or numbness, or feel weaker, you should stop exercising and talk to your doctor.
Considerations
Lymphedema is a condition that some women with breast cancer may be at increased risk of developing. The condition occurs when fluid from affected lymph nodes causes swelling of body parts. If you are at increased risk of developing this condition, your doctor will discuss it with you and you should proceed with exercise with caution under the guidance of a licensed physiotherapist or occupational therapist. In any case, you should always consult your physician before attempting any course of exercise after a mastectomy.
