At Newquay Physiotherapy we provide gentle hands on treatment to help reduce the scarring and soft tissue changes caused by breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy. This can include partial or full mastectomy, lumpectomy, lymph node removal and breast reconstruction surgery. Treatment aims are based on reducing connective tissue changes such as scarring, adhesions, thickening and fibrosis in order to reduce pain and to restore movement, function and lymphatic drainage.

Surgery for breast cancer and radiotherapy treatment can lead to scarring, pain and loss of movement. This can be caused by:

  • Partial or full mastectomy
  • Lumpectomy
  • Lymph node removal
  • Breast reconstruction surgery
  • Cording

Once you have had breast cancer surgery and/or radiotherapy, it is common to feel a variety of physical changes. For some, these problems can persist for months or even years. Common symptoms can include:

  • Pain
  • Scars, adhesions and fibrosis
  • Axillary Web Syndrome (Cording)
  • Lymphodoema
  • Impaired range of movement, mobility and function
  • Muscle weakness
  • Upper limb, trunk and abdominal weakness following latissimus dorsi and abdominal flap reconstructions
  • Postural changes

At Newquay Physiotherapy we are trained to specifically treat changes caused by breast surgery and radiotherapy. We want to help improve your recovery and use various physiotherapy treatments to help reduce any symptoms you might be having. Following surgery and radiotherapy, it’s common for arm and shoulder exercises to be prescribed. However, typically, scarring and soft tissue changes do not resolve with exercises alone and require gentle, but deeper, hands on treatment. We often use the following to aid your recovery:

  • Gentle specific tissue massage
  • Soft tissue mobilisations
  • Fascial release
  • Gentle stretching
  • Graded exercise programmes
  • Pilates

We understand that breast cancer can be a physical and emotional journey. Through physiotherapy our aim is to reduce your pain, increase your movement and function and to help you feel better. Having gone through such a journey we want to help you achieve your full potential.

If you or anyone you know has been affected by breast cancer and you feel that physiotherapy treatment may be able to help, please do get in touch with us. We’re here to help and we want to help.

Booking is easy, please send us an email to info@newquayphysio.co.uk or drop us a message using the form below.

If you would like to find out more about the changes that cording, mastectomy, lumpectomy and radiotherapy can cause then please see below for more information.

Cording
Cording or Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS) is a tight band of tissue which can develop after breast surgery. This band of tightness is commonly found in the chest and upper arm and can sometimes extend towards the ribs, elbow or wrist.

In the early stages, cording can be extremely painful and can greatly reduce arm and shoulder movement.

Mastectomy
Scar tissue following a partial or full mastectomy can impair movement and cause pain. Typically, scarring can lead to tightness and pulling in the chest, armpit and arm, pain close to the shoulder blades and difficulty raising the arm. Scar tissue will exist not only at the surface of the skin but will also form in the deeper tissues at the breast and chest area.

Lumpectomy
In similarity to a partial or full mastectomy, lumpectomy surgery can result in the formation of scar tissue both at the surface of the skin and deep within the breast.
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Breast cancerWhat is scar tissue?
The vast majority of us will have at least one scar somewhere on our bodies. This scar tissue forms following an injury or surgical operation and is a completely normal part of the tissue healing process.

Simple injuries such as a small shallow cut to the finger can result in a superficial and visible scar on the surface of the skin. However, whilst bigger injuries such as a torn muscle may not give rise to any visible wounds on the skin’s surface, formation of scar tissue will commonly form deep within the muscle as it heals.

During breast surgery, it’s common for breast tissue to be removed together with lymph node removal. Not only does the surgeon need to cut through the skin but this type of surgery requires removal of tissue at a deeper level. This means that as the wound heals, not only does a scar form on the surface of the skin but scar tissue will also form much deeper beneath the skin. As it forms, scar tissue will connect to the surrounding soft tissues. As scar tissue isn’t flexible or stretchy like other tissues it can give rise to adhesions which can start to restrict and limit movement. Not only does this affect arm and shoulder mobility but this reduction in movement can be a causative factor in further musculoskeletal problems, often giving rise to pain at the neck, shoulder, elbow and even the wrist.

As scar tissue and adhesions are virtually impossible to stretch, arm and shoulder exercises often do little to help. Instead, gentle hands on treatment such as massage and connective tissue release techniques are required to help mobilise and break down any scar tissue in order to help restore mobility.
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When is the best time to get treatment?

  • Ideally you should aim to get treatment for your surgical breast scar prior to the start of your radiotherapy treatment
  • As soon as your surgical wounds have healed
  • Ideally within the first two years after surgery

Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy can lead to skin redness and possible skin breakdown which normally heals within about four to six weeks. Radiotherapy can also cause fatigue and radiotherapy fibrosis which can persist for longer.

Radiation fibrosis can occur following radiotherapy treatment and is more severe following a high dose of radiotherapy. With breast cancer, it can arise in the irradiated area, typically in the breast, chest and neck. Not only does radiotherapy fibrosis affect the remaining breast tissue but it can also affect the skin and muscles. It can lead to a thickening or hardening of the soft tissues which, for some, can be ongoing for many years. Common symptoms include tightness in the chest area which can be relieved through gentle massage to help release the tissues.
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When is the best time to get treatment for radiotherapy fibrosis?

  • Ideally, aim to receive treatment for your surgical breast scar prior to starting any radiotherapy
  • When you have completed radiotherapy make an appointment for an assessment and treatment within at least four weeks

If you or anyone you know has been affected by breast cancer and you feel that physiotherapy treatment may be able to help, please do get in touch with us. We’re here to help and we want to help.