Physical therapy for breast cancer survivors

Women who conquer breast cancer often times have an uphill battle to return to their previous physical state.

The climb back can be painful and, without proper treatment and physical therapy, can only get worse.

About three in four women who undergo successful treatment of breast cancer will have pain and decreased movement in their arms and 30 percent will develop lymphedema, according to a local physical therapist who is recognized by the American Cancer Society for post-breast cancer physical treatment.

Renata Beaman, a certified physical therapist at Spooner Physical Therapy, 11611 S. 40th St., believes that the many women who are confronted by this pain are, more often then not, unaware of the treatment options available.

"I say, ‘Why should (breast cancer survivors) suffer?' They have already suffered enough," Beaman said.

The 30 percent of women who are diagnosed with lymphedema will see one arm swell up to a larger size than the other. Lymphedema can be the result of cancer, surgery, radiation therapy as well as several other risk factors.

Beaman said that in the case of breast cancer, or treatment of breast cancer, a disruption can occur in a person's lymphatic system that results in the arm's inability to drain fluids successfully, causing swelling throughout.

"We need to make people more aware that if they have pain in their arm, or immobility, that there is therapy out there for it," Beaman said. "We want to get the pain to go away."

There is no cure for lymphedema but treatment can bring back some mobility and strength to the arm, as well as decrease pain.

Beaman said that in order to combat swelling, she encompasses the infected arm with several layers of medical wrapping. The patient should then leave it on for 23 hours a day. It can be done by the patient by themselves, but it can be somewhat of a hassle to wrap, unwrap and rewrap an arm each time.

But Beaman said that she has seen increased movement in some patients immediately afterwards. Physical therapy treatment is covered by most insurance as well.

For the 75 percent of women who notice pain after breast cancer treatment, physical therapy can be a great relief. There are, however, only a few places in the Valley that offer specific treatment plans for women who have survived breast cancer.

"We are starting to see the information catch on, but it is still going slower than I would like," she said. "You see the pain develop in the arm, and sometimes it is brushed over."

To find out more about lymphedema, visit www.lymphnet.org. To find out more information about the services offered by Spooner Physical Therapy, visit www.spoonerphysicaltherapy.com, or call (480) 706-1199.