Rehabilitation after mastectomy

Breast cancer is the most common tumor among women. In many cases it requires drastic surgical
procedure, and breast amputation is an extreme experience for a woman. Psychological strain resulting
from the fact of having a tumor and its location is accompanied by physical ailments. Weakness, limitation
of muscular strength and scope of movement on the operated side, and lymphoedema following
lymph nodes amputation are very common after mastectomy. To prevent these, a patient should be
encouraged to do physical exercises both before and after the surgery. Such exercises, adapted to the
patient’s abilities and health, improve dexterity of the limb on the operated side as well as efficiency of
the cardiovascular and osseous systems and facilitate both keeping proper body mass and psychical
state improvement. Decrease in the number of breast cancer recurrence and reduced mortality rate
among physically active women compared to those with sedentary lifestyle prove that it is important
that all women after breast cancer surgery undergo some form of kinesitherapy.