Occupational Therapy Program Helps Mastectomy Patients
By Hima Dalal, OTR/L

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Modified radical mastectomy continues to be the most frequent treatment for breast cancer. The diagnosis of cancer of the breast, and the subsequent loss of one or both breasts, can bevery traumatic.Plastic Surgeon scan offer the option of reconstructing the breast following the removal of cancer.Breast reconstruction serves as one element in emotional rehabilitation, which minimizes the psychological trauma of the diagnosis.

There are basically two types of reconstruction operations: silicone implants placed in a subpectoral pocket, and flap procedures using the clients’ own tissues.Both types of breast reconstruction surgeries, when combined with a mastectomy, can lead to extrinsic internal rotator and abductor muscle group dysfunction. However, the clients with silicone prostheses are sore and have more tightness secondary to the formation of the subpectoral pocket. Both operations lead to a temporary decrease in independence in activities of daily living secondary to the decrease in shoulder external rotation, horizontal abduction, horizontal adduction, flexion and abduction. The occupational the rapy reconstructive surgery program helps the client regain shoulder functions, decrease abdominal tightness, and increase hip extension to allow the client to regain independence in self care, homemaking, vocational and avocational activities. The program appears to shorten the physical and emotional adjustment period. Out therapy programs also help patients with lymphedema
complications.