Post mastectomy exercise

Post mastectomy exercise

1. POST MASTECTOMY EXERCISES

2. Overview of Mastectomy

3. A mastectomy is a surgery to remove one or two breasts. It is performed either to treat or to prevent breast cancer.

4. Total mastectomy – involves removal of the breast and nipple-areola complex but does not include axillary lymph node dissection.

5. Modified radical mastectomy – is performed to treat invasive breast cancer. The procedure involves removal of the entire breast tissue, including the nipple-areola complex.

6. Lumpectomy - is a common surgical procedure designed to remove a discrete lump, usually a benign tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it from an affected breast.

7. Radical mastectomy - is a surgical procedure in which the breast, underlying chest muscle (including pectoralis major and pectoralis minor), and lymph nodes of the axilla are removed as a treatment for breast cancer.

8. What are Post Mastectomy Exercises? These are exercise done by patients who underwent mastectomy or the surgical removal of one or both breasts.

9. Purposes: To increase blood circulation. To increase muscular strength. Prevents joints stiffness and contractures. To restore full range of motion of the arms and shoulders.

10. Principles: Check doctor’s order. To be performed three times a day for 20 minutes at a time. Let patient shower with warm water prior to exercise. Administer analgesic 30 minutes prior to exercise. If patient has a graft, exercises may need to be prescribed and introduced gradually.

11. Equipments: Rubber ball Rope (1.5 – 2 meters long)