Breast Cancer, Lymphedema and the Shoulder Girdle: What You Should Know
October Newsletter
You’ve beat breast cancer — but you might not be totally in the clear just yet. Breast cancer survivors have a higher-than-normal rate of developing lymphedema, a condition marked by chronic swelling, and many struggle with mobility restrictions in the shoulder that can make day-to-day activities challenging.
However, the good news is that you can take steps to reduce the likelihood of developing these complications. If you do develop issues, you also have several options for managing symptoms. The team at Rising Sun Physical Therapy is here to help you every step of the way.
Today, we want to focus on the connection between breast cancer and shoulder girdle difficulties and explore some of the ways we can help manage these difficulties.
What is the Shoulder Girdle?
Your shoulder girdle is the structure that connects your arms to your trunk. It consists of the collarbone, shoulder blade, and several muscles, ligaments, and tendons that work together to allow your shoulder joint a wide range of motion.
Furthermore, the shoulder girdle stabilizes the upper body and allows you to perform the coordinated arm movements necessary for many daily activities, such as picking up or reaching for objects.
How Breast Cancer Treatment Affects the Shoulder Girdle
There are a couple of reasons why your shoulder girdle might become impaired after breast cancer treatment:
Surgical-Related Trauma
Mastectomies and lumpectomies are two common approaches for treating breast cancer. However, both surgeries involve cutting through the tissue in or near the shoulder girdle. Without proper rehabilitation, scar tissue can form, causing long-term pain and movement restrictions.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema occurs when lymph – a type of waste fluid – builds up in your lymphatic vessels. If left untreated, it can cause severe swelling and restricted mobility in the arms, trunk, or legs.
Breast cancer survivors are more likely to develop lymphedema as a complication of their treatment. Radiation therapy can lead to lymphedema, as can surgery, which sometimes involves removing the lymph nodes that process lymphatic fluid.
How To Prevent These Complications
One of the most important things you can do to avoid complications after beating breast cancer is to remain vigilant! This is especially true when it comes to identifying lymphedema. Because it’s a progressive condition, early intervention is critical to achieving a good outcome.
Keep an eye out for these early lymphedema symptoms, and if you notice them, schedule an appointment at Rising Sun Physical Therapy right away:
- A feeling of heaviness in one of your arms or around the trunk of your body
- Rings or watches feel tighter
There are also some simple strategies you can take on your own to help prevent lymphedema:
- Take care to avoid trauma or injury to the skin of the affected area.
- If you scratch or otherwise injure the area, make sure to wash with soap and water, apply antibiotic ointment, and monitor for swelling and redness.
- Gradually build up activity in the affected area and take frequent breaks to allow time for recovery.
- Avoid constricting the affected limb.
However, we encourage anyone undergoing breast cancer treatment to visit our clinic even if they aren’t experiencing symptoms. We can provide you with personalized prevention strategies to help protect you from issues with your shoulder girdle.
Some of the Treatments We Might Suggest
Laser Therapy
We offer Class IV laser therapy, which involves running a hand-held device directly over the skin of the affected area to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and help injured tissue move through the stages of healing. For those who have had breast cancer, we’ll wait until you’re well into remission, although we also use this technique after breast reductions or liposuction to help with rehabilitation.
Lymphatic Therapy
This gentle hands-on technique, often referred to as lymphatic drainage massage, is one of the standard treatments for lymphedema. It encourages lymph to move through the lymphatic vessels, reducing swelling and boosting the function of the lymphatic system.
Compression Therapy
We can guide you on the best type of compression therapy for your needs, depending on the stage of your lymphedema symptoms. This will generally involve specialized compression garments or, in some cases, multilayered bandaging.
Therapeutic Exercise
Gentle exercise tailored to the individual can help improve lymphatic function, prevent further swelling, and reduce discomfort. If your shoulder mobility is particularly restricted, targeted exercises can help improve your range of motion. Our therapists will work closely with you to find the right exercises for your needs.
Schedule Your Appointment at Rising Sun Physical Therapy Today
If you’re a breast cancer survivor, taking a proactive approach to your post-treatment health and wellness is essential! We encourage you to schedule an appointment with our team today to learn more about addressing any potential complications before they become a significant problem.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“My highest compliments to Rising Sun PT. The most professional and knowledgeable therapists I ever came to work with. Bettina Neumann is awesome. She works with you with great patience, and gives you lots of tools to work with at home. Thanks to Bettina I am able to enjoy the physical activities I love. If you want lasting results and take-home tools to manage your problems, go to Rising Sun PT, they are the best!”
—Nina S.
– Alicia K.
Integrative Wellness Partnership
Aurras Transformation’s holistic approach focuses on wellness and recovery from cancer. Learn how incorporating dance and building a lifestyle aligned with natural rhythms can aid your healing journey. Join our monthly New Moon Ritual. An embodied healing journey starts here.
Check Out Aurras Transformation Offerings:
New Moon Ritual: Deepening Darkness: Nurturing Your Inner Light
📅 When: Monday, October 28, at 6 PM PST/PDT
Embrace November’s dark days for growth. Go inward, build strength, and let your inner light guide change. It is a season for introspection and renewal.
Reserve your spot for a transformative music, sound, and holistic exploration journey. Release, renew, and prepare for the next moon cycle.
Aurras Blog:
Dancing Towards Healing: The Transformative Power of the 5Rhythms in Cancer Recovery
Cancer diagnosis can be a life-altering experience, impacting not only the physical body but also the emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals. As one navigates the challenges of treatment, recovery, and survivorship, it is essential to explore holistic approaches to healing that address the multidimensional aspects of the healing journey. One such approach that holds immense potential for supporting cancer recovery is the transformative practice of the 5Rhythms.
A 5Rhythms Wave:
📅 When: Monday, October 28 & November 23 at 6 PM
765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA
We navigate life’s waves, blending our community’s diverse spirit. These internal and external waves spur us to dance, exploring ourselves through shifting rhythms. In motion, we uncover truths, adapting to changing beats.
Bettina Neumann leads the warm-up wave. Your guides for this journey are instructors Vehllia Tranne and Alessandro Moruzzi.
Dance with us in Portola Valley, surrounded by majestic redwoods. Escape the city and find your rhythm amidst nature.
Meet Our Team
-
Kelsey Anderson
Operations Manager -
Bettina Neumann
PT, CST, LLCC -
Simone Vienneau
PT
Exercise of the Month
Shoulder Circumduction
Start by standing up straight. Place your fingertips on your shoulders with your elbows sticking straight out to your sides. Slowly begin making clockwise circles with your elbows without moving your fingers. Continue as directed and then switch directions. Repeat 3 sets of 10 reps each.
Feel Better by Eating Better!
Sweet & Sour Cauliflower
Easy and healthy Baked Sweet & Sour Cauliflower is a delicious twist on classic sweet & sour chicken or pork and it’s baked instead of fried. You won’t miss meat in this lightened up classic!
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss cauliflower and oil in a ziplock bag. Add corn starch and toss to coat again. Transfer cauliflower to a greased baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 min until cauliflower starts to brown on the bottom. Switch oven to broil and cook on high for 3-4 minutes just until tops start to brown. Combine sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion salt, and ketchup in a medium sauce pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Whisk together corn starch and cold water in a small bowl until dissolved. Add to pan and stir until thickened, then reduce to low heat. Combine roasted cauliflower and sauce. Serve with steamed rice and top with sliced green onions.
Recipe: www.lecremedelacrumb.com/baked-sweet-sour-cauliflower
Ingredients
- 5-6 cups cauliflower florets
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup corn starch
- 3-4 cups steamed rice, for serving
- Thinly sliced green onions for garnish
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion salt
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp cold water
