Course Description:

This course provides learners with evidence-informed approaches and strategies for the medical management and cancer rehabilitation of people living with and beyond (PLWB) surgical intervention for breast cancer. Breast cancer remains the most common type of cancer, with over 300,000 new cases each year. While surgery has been the primary treatment for over 140 years, surgical techniques, including reconstruction, continue to evolve to reduce the functional impact while maintaining high survival rates.

Cancer rehabilitation clinicians frequently evaluate patients undergoing surgery before and acutely after breast surgery to restore shoulder range of motion and strength, manage scars, and reduce their risk of developing lymphedema. Addressing these impairments supports patients’ ability to perform their activities of daily living, return to work, and prepare for additional cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. As surgery techniques continue to evolve, cancer rehab physical and occupational therapists need to understand these changes to ensure the rehabilitation interventions optimize function without increasing post-operative complications. Rehabilitation interventions, including manual therapy, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, cupping, patient education, therapeutic exercise and activities, can be beneficial. However, understanding the timeframe for precautions and contraindications is important. This course will focus on the current standard of practice of breast tumor removal, lymph node removal, and implant and autologous flap reconstructions of breast and other cancers affecting the breast from a medical and rehabilitation perspective.