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Therapy for Breast Cancer Recovery

Rehab is a key part of your treatment success.

Rehab addresses treatment side effects of breast cancer treatment, such as lymphedema, cording, decreased endurance and joint stiffness. For most patients, your rehab begins the day after surgery.

Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Services

At UC San Diego Health, you'll be able to recover quickly and safely thanks to a skilled, interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. Therapists work closely with oncologists and surgeons to ensure effective and targeted care. 

Exercise

Exercise following surgery is essential to re-educating muscles, restoring movement and decreasing side effects. Our breast cancer rehab center is unique to San Diego in that it sees patients for exercise after their operation.

Therapy

Immediately following surgery, your doctor will order occupational therapy (OT).

During the course of breast cancer rehab, physical therapy (PT) may be prescribed if balance and endurance issues arise.

More about OT and PT and their roles in breast cancer rehab:

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Physical Therapy (PT)

Benefits of Breast Cancer Rehab

Breast cancer treatment can impact emotional and physical well-being, making it difficult for patients to return to normal living. 

Breast cancer rehab helps to:

  • Reduce the impact of treatment
  • Restore sensation
  • Provide emotional support
  • Improve the odds of successful treatment
  • Accelerate healing and ability for normal activities
  • Overcome symptoms such as pain, unsteadiness, fatigue, scar tissue restriction and numbness

Rehab also helps detect and treat two common long-term side effects of breast cancer surgery and radiation:

Lymphedema

Axillary Web Syndrome (cording)

Recovering Successfully

Three ways to help ensure successful recovery after treatment:

  1. Always discuss your goals openly with your doctor.
    Each patient has different needs, and sharing these from the get-go will help improve your overall experience.
  2. Educate yourself.
    What kind of breast cancer do you have? What treatment(s) are available to you? It’s important that you ask a lot of questions so you know what your options are.
  3. Be proactive about your health.
    Health conditions such as lymphedema can occur several years after breast cancer treatment. Being conscious of changes in your body and having routine check-ups is essential in maintaining health.

Appointments & Referrals

Breast Cancer Rehab Locations

La Jolla

Meet Our Specialists

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