Breast Cancer Rehabilitation: What to Expect

by Alexandra Wiley  MScPT
Pelvic physiotherapist
updated June 3, 2025

A breast cancer diagnosis can be a long and challenging journey, but achieving optimal outcomes postoperatively should not be an additional obstacle. At Cornerstone, the breast cancer rehabilitation program offers hands-on treatment and a home exercise program to ensure the best possible outcomes.

The program is delivered by a multidisciplinary team to ensure all aspects of recovery are covered depending on what might be needed for each individual patient. Our team includes Physiotherapists (work on manual therapy for lymphedema, cording, stiffness, pain + provide individualized exercise programs to focus on mobility, postural strength and re-conditioning), Occupational Therapists (to help with any bracing/wrapping suggestions + modifications/aides), Psychotherapists (to help you with the mental/emotional side of diagnosis and treatment struggles) and Nutritionists (to help with dietary advice if needed for helping to control lymphedema, helping with cancer related fatigue).

What to expect in the cancer rehabilitation assessment

The breast cancer rehab program begins with an initial hour-long assessment delivered by our specially trained Physiotherapists in our pelvic health team. Your Physiotherapists will be your main treating professional and will make recommendations if you/they feel other members of the team might be helpful in your recovery process.

Ideally, if you have not undergone surgery at this time, it is best to come in preoperatively so your therapist can get your pre-op baselines and provide you with education on what to expect from a physical/recovery stand-point and provide exercise you can start with right away post-operatively to optimize your recovery. This will allow you to be as informed as possible when going into surgery.

If you are an individual who is further along in your journey and underwent surgery in the past, this program is still for you. It is important to note that symptoms such as joint restrictions, lymphedema, decreased strength, and limited daily function can be present or present themselves later on in your journey.

The assessment framework will begin with discussing your concerns, goals, and expectations. There will be an in depth discussion about where you are on your journey. The assessment will touch on your current function and aspects of your life that are important to you. From this, a detailed objective assessment will be performed. The therapist will look at aspects such as lymphedema and swelling, arm and upper body mobility, strength and breathing mechanics.

What to expect in your cancer rehabilitation treatments

At Cornerstone, we have developed a comprehensive protocol for our post-op breast cancer patients. It is best that treatment begins 2-3 weeks post surgery however, it is never too late to make progress if you are finding us later in your journey.  Sessions may vary from 30-60 minutes depending on the amount of time the therapist needs to deliver the most optimal treatment.

There will also be a large emphasis on hands-on therapy. This is very important to prevention and management of lymphedema. Techniques will address scar tissue mobilization, joint range of motion, soft tissue work, and lymphatic system mobilization. The goal is to optimize all systems to assist in the drainage of lymphatic fluid.

The physiotherapist will also provide you with a home exercises program to work on the areas most important for you. These exercises may include: work on breathing mechanics, upper limb mobility, upper back range of motion and strength. A home exercise program is crucial to helping you progress to your goals and maintain these goals between sessions. They will be delivered at a progressive pace to ensure you feel confident in completing them and they are at the correct level.

The number of treatment sessions needed will depend on how much there is to work on and how fast changes are being made in the first few treatments with the hands on therapy and your home program.  This is extremely variable depending on what treatment you have undergone, when you are starting care with us, what your functional level is at initial assessment and what your goals are with care.  Your Physiotherapist will be able to give you a general range on initial assessment and become more specific after the progress of the first few treatments is seen.

Contact us today so we can help you to improve your quality of life and continue to optimize your function during and after your breast cancer journey.

About the author

Alexandra Wiley

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