Physiotherapy treatment of late symptoms following surgical treatment of breast cancer

Women who have been subjected to surgical treatment for breast cancer may d evelop late sequelae in the area of operation on the chest wall and/or in t he ipsilateral arm or shoulder after the immediate surgical discomfort has passed. As many patients seek treatment of their own accord by physiotherap ists, we considered it relevant to evaluate the effect of two different phy siotherapy regimes. We also wished to determine whether there was a possibl e relationship between occurrence of late sequelae and physical findings, c arried out by means of a simple clinical examination based on physiotherape utic methods of examination. Fifty-nine patients, 1-4 years postoperatively, were randomized to two diff erent physiotherapy regimens. Patients were examined by a physician before and after the treatment, and they answered a questionnaire four times in al l within the course of the investigation. The questionnaire covered six mai n late sequelae, as well as the degree of discomfort. Our investigation sho ws that many women experience late symptoms after surgical treatment of bre ast cancer, and that is possible in these patients, to demonstrate a reduct ion in strength in the ipsilateral extremity, reduced movement and increase d muscle tone. Physiotherapy can improve the strength, movement and muscle tone in the operated extremity and also reduce the presence and severity of the late symtoms. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.