Review
English
Sami Elmahgoub ¹ , Riyad Bendardaf ²
1-Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medical Technology, Al- Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya. 2-Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital, Savitehtannkatu
JMJ 2008,Vol.8, No.3:162-164
Abstract
The incidence of breast cancer is continuously increasing world wide. The number of cured patients is also increasing and those with accompanying chronic disease even if not cured, they survive longer. Surgery and radiotherapy treatments have developed dramatically during the past decades causing less damage to the structures. However, patients are still left with varying degrees of impairment of arm function, in particular those receiving both surgery and radiotherapy to the axilla due to arm oedema, arm and shoulder movement restriction and decreased soft tissue mobility secondary to scarring at the incision site. Rehabilitation is a very important part of breast cancer treatments in the pre and post operative management of those who have had any of these surgeries and radiotherapy. The healthcare team (physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers) makes every effort to help women return to their normal activities as soon as possible. Recovery will be different for each woman, depending on the extent of the disease, the type of treatment, and other factors. The aim of this review is to discuss the major sequelae of treatment of lymphoedema, and the physiotherapist’s role in the prevention and treatment of such complications.
Keywords: Breast cancer, Lymphoedema, Physiotherapy, Upper body function.
Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/PDF/autumn2008/162.pdf