Course Description:

There is more to breast cancer rehabilitation than the most commonly identified side effect, lymphedema. Some patients never even have lymphedema, but suffer from severe pain, tightness and describe a rubber band like feeling around their rib cage. Others, develop sensitivity around their removed breast and just like the phantom pain one can experience with an amputated leg, a phantom pain can develop after a mastectomy. Fragile, hardened, fibrotic skin can form after radiation intensifying pain in the underlying soft tissue. Surgical scars can lead to scar tissue that adheres to underlying structures causing pain, lack of mobility, and blockages to lymphatic flow. Stringing rope like bands, better known as axilla cording, can suddenly appear and further restrict movement. Lack of shoulder mobility can result from a patient’s fear to move to avoid the onset of pain. Muscle guarding in the shoulder complex can cause muscle spasms and further add to the list of complications and side effects after breast cancer that are, often times, not identified. We will discuss how to address the anxiety and mental fogginess that sometimes gets wrapped into this pretty pink surprise package called breast cancer recovery.
Conditions that will be defined and covered in the breast cancer rehabilitation courses include: radiation fibrosis, radiation induced brachial plexopathy, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, lymphedema, phantom breast syndrome, post mastectomy pain syndrome, axillary web syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, myofascial pain syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis, winged scapula, nerve entrapments, chemobrain, and cancer related fatigue. We will also address general arm weakness and stiffness as well as scar tissue adhesions.