Physiotherapy should be part of the treatment, from diagnosis to discharge. understand the benefits
Breast cancer is the tumor that kills most women worldwide, including in Brazil. In the country, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, this is the most common type of cancer in women. For the year 2022, 66,280 new cases were estimated, according to a survey by the National Cancer Institute (INCA).
There is a high probability of curing breast cancer when the diagnosis is made early. A tumor diagnosed at an early stage has more than a 90% chance of cure. However, treatment, which may include partial or total mastectomy, can bring physical and emotional sequelae.
Know more: Symptoms of breast cancer: know the 9 most common
“The view that a woman has about herself is altered after the mastectomy and when there is no immediate breast reconstruction”, points out Vanessa Tiscoski, an oncological physiotherapist at the Brazilian Society of Mastology (SBM). “In addition, after the surgery, she suffers from limited movement of the shoulders and scapulae, postural changes, pain and change in sensitivity, difficulty in socializing and creating insecurity”, says the specialist.
Therefore, rehabilitation is a fundamental step during and after breast cancer treatment. It is a set of care to ensure the resumption of post-cancer life, improving women’s self-esteem and physical, emotional, social and sexual well-being.
Rehabilitation of the breast cancer patient should not only occur after treatment, but throughout the entire process, from diagnosis. The stages of rehabilitation are:
The physiotherapist and professor of the Physiotherapy course at Faculdade Santa Marcelina, Aline Machado, explains that the treatment physiotherapy is recommended throughout the patient’s follow-upfrom diagnosis to discharge.
Vanessa agrees and points out that it is now possible to make indications of appropriate physical exercises for each case during the patient’s evaluation. “We know that physical activity prevents the emergence of other diseases and alleviates the side effects of cancer treatment”, explains the oncology physiotherapist.
It is at this stage that physiotherapy will play its greatest role. Physiotherapeutic treatment is essential to help women overcome their physical limitations and promote functional independence, allowing them to perform daily activities alone and in greater comfort.
“The role of physiotherapy in breast cancer rehabilitation is to improve the quality of life of women in the postoperative period of breast cancer, in order to reduce pain and discomfort in the immediate postoperative period, improve range of motion and strength muscle of the upper limb involved in the surgery and minimize possible swelling that can occur both in the immediate and late postoperative period”, explains Aline.
This importance is mainly due to the injury caused by the surgical procedure itself, but also because there is a possibility that the doctor will have to remove muscles, which interferes with the movement of the upper limb on the operated side, and lymph nodes, which drain the arm. , which may cause post-mastectomy lymphedema.
Read more: 11 risk factors for breast cancer
According to Vanessa, the benefits of physical therapy also include the prevention of respiratory, skeletal and circulatory complications and adequate and safe rehabilitation, with exercises and guidelines that must be followed after returning home.
Among the activities that are part of physiotherapy are muscle stretching, joint mobilizations, in addition to electrophysical resources and the use of manual therapy, as explained by Aline.
During breast cancer treatment, a woman’s self-esteem can be impacted due to hair loss, a common side effect of chemotherapy, and due to mastectomy. In addition, it is common for patients to feel a decrease in libido and suffer from hormonal changes that can impact their sex life.
Therefore, it is also part of rehabilitation to restore the confidence and self-esteem of women. In these cases, breast reconstructive surgery may be essential for some patients. In addition, it is important to maintain psychological or psychiatric follow-up for the process of regaining self-confidence.
Social rehabilitation encompasses the emotional and physical phases. After all, through physical therapy, the patient will be able to recover her physical functions and have more independence to perform her tasks, feeling less pain.
Know more: Does breast cancer hurt? Know the main symptoms
Psychological follow-up will also promote mental and emotional well-being, motivating the patient to perform tasks that give her pleasure. All this is essential for her to feel free to resume social and leisure activities that were part of her routine before breast cancer treatment.
Content for educational purposes only. Consult a Doctor.
Disclaimer – (English version>) This content has been prepared based on information from research, additional publications, or the translation/verification work of a volunteer editor of this web council. This is a non-profit service. It is strongly recommended that all details and information published be carefully verified. We never allow medication recommendations, medication package inserts or any medication guidance. We never allow partisan politics as information.
Isenção de responsabilidade – (versão em português): Este conteúdo foi preparado com base em informações de pesquisas, publicações adicionais ou no trabalho de tradução/verificação de um editor voluntário deste conselho web. Este é um serviço sem fins lucrativos. É altamente recomendável que todos os detalhes e informações publicadas sejam verificadas cuidadosamente. Nunca permitimos recomendações de medicamentos, bulas ou qualquer orientação sobre medicamentos. Nunca permitimos a política partidária como base para checagem. Para mais informações, leia nossos termos.
