Current rehabilitation processes do not prevent long-term impairments after treatment for breast cancer in Australia
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Endoscopic Bilateral Nipple-sparing Mastectomy via a Single Axillary Incision with Immediate Pre-pectoral Implant-based Breast Reconstruction
Published on: May 17, 2024
Elizabeth S Dylke1, Sharon Kilbreath
1BHK, MPhty, PhD, Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW.
Background:
Our aims were to determine if and how advice regarding physical rehabilitation (arm-specific and general exercise) was provided after treatment for breast cancer, as well as the prevalence of physical impairments following treatment for breast cancer in an Australian population.
Methods:
Members of the Review and Survey Group of the Breast Cancer Network Australia participated in a validated web-based survey.
Results:
Participants included 186 women who underwent axillary node dissection and 201 who underwent sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer. Of the respondents, 75% reported receiving arm-specific exercise advice following surgery and 44% were advised on the importance of general exercise at some point during treatment. Despite this, upper limb impairments were commonly reported during treatment and 1 year after surgery, particularly for women who had undergone axillary node dissection.
Discussion:
Although rehabilitation advice is commonly offered to women treated for breast cancer in Australia, pain and reduced arm function remain common in women more than 1 year after surgery.
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