Role of physical therapy in patients of post-surgery breast cancer

Abstract

The second most common cancer among women
after skin cancer is the breast cancer which has
been seen in 1 of every 8th woman around the
globe. According to American cancer society,
with the high rate of occurrence, it is also obvious
that 7 out of 8 women can never have the cancer.
The mortality rate of breast cancer is 1 in 38
woman which is about 2.6%.1 When the cancer
cells keep regenerating, mastectomy after breast
conservative therapy is the only option for
treatment afterward radiation therapy, which
has shown a signicant impact on the patients of
breast cancer. After breast surgery or radiation
t h e r a p y , a n a b n o r m a l s w e l l i n g c a l l e d
Lymphedema can be devolved in the arm, hand,
breast or torso as a side effect. This can appear
after months or years after the treatment. Lymph
is a clear uid that disseminate throughout the
body to remove wastes, bacteria or other waste
products from the tissues and the edema is the
buildup of excessive uids in the tissue. One of
the most usual problems is lymphedema which
is an abnormal swelling and can develop in the
interstitial tissues of torso, breast, arm or hand as
a side effect of radiation therapy or breast cancer
surgery. Lymphedema can persist in some
females during the months or even years after
treatment ends. Physiotherapy has an impactful
role in patients and survivors of breast cancer.