Breast Cancer Pre and Post-Operative Rehabilitation

A breast cancer diagnosis comes with a long journey and many challenges to navigate. Ensuring the best possible postoperative outcomes should not be one of them. At Cornerstone we have assembled a specially trained interdisciplinary team and a world class medical and surgical advisory board to deliver a program best on rehabilitation best practices to ensure the best possible outcome from your surgery.

Our Physiotherapists have undergone comprehensive training in breast cancer postoperative rehabilitation, observed surgeries and developed ideal protocols in consultation with doctors and surgeons. They will be with you every step of the way to coach you through all of the challenges that you encounter throughout your recovery.

Breast cancer is not just a physical challenge. Our program benefits from the involvement of an experienced Dietician to help support your recovery with a healthy diet, an occupational therapist and a psychotherapist to assist you in overcoming some of the emotional and cognitive consequences of a cancer diagnosis and the impact of the treatment journey.

How Does Cornerstone’s Breast Cancer Postoperative Rehabilitation Program Work?

Ideally we begin the process with an hour-long session prior to your medical intervention where you will learn what to expect following discharge from the hospital, and what you should do prior to, and in the days following your surgery. This is an opportunity for our team to help share the wisdom of other patients who have preceded you. On the day of your surgery you, and your care team will be as informed and prepared as possible. In this visit we will identify other professionals you would benefit from having on your team, and develop a plan to work together toward your ideal recovery.

Your first few postoperative visits will also be an hour in length. These are critical visits where our Physiotherapist will help to treat any postoperative lymphedema and ensure that tissues are healing properly without compromising any future function of your arm, chest and shoulder.

As your recovery progresses visits will decrease to 30 min. in length. You can expect that we will coach you through the recovery process one step at a time balancing tissue healing timelines and the pursuit of your goals.

If you have discovered our program after your surgery, don’t worry, we can still help! Our rehab professionals will do a comprehensive assessment and put together a customized plan to meet your recovery goals.

Breast Cancer Post-Operative Rehabilitation Clinical Advisory Board

Dr. Ron Somogyi MD, FRCSC

Dr. Ron Somogyi is a Toronto-based plastic surgeon, having trained at the University of Toronto in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery then completing 2 fellowships in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Somogyi has been on full time staff at North York General Hospital since 2014 and is active academically as an Assistant Professor within the Department of Surgery at The University of Toronto. He looks after his patients through his practice at Form Face & Body.

Dr. Somogyi maintains an active research interest in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, particularly in the area of breast surgery and body contouring, and has recently published journal articles and book chapters on breast reconstruction, surgical safety and cosmetic breast surgery.

Dr. Somogyi is involved in speaking and teaching nationally and internationally. His current focus is on improving patient outcomes with all forms of breast reconstruction – implant based, microsurgical and oncoplastic. His passion is providing holistic care to patients that includes effective pre-surgical education, a comfortable surgical experience and multidisciplinary post-surgical care to achieve optimal results.

Courtney Steele MScPT
Physiotherapist (ortho & pelvic) + Director

Courtney is the Director of the Richmond Hill and North York locations as well as the lead of Cornerstone’s breast cancer rehabilitation stream. She is an experienced therapist with a passion for helping patients address all the struggles that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. She strongly believes in treating a person as a whole and not a condition/diagnosis as well as preventative care – working with patients to achieve their best quality of life. Her patients have been her biggest teachers in this area showing her just how many systems are/can be affected by cancer care and the need to have a team of professionals that can help you navigate these.

She started taking courses on oncology to better serve her patients and now is dedicated to improving her own learning as well as all Physiotherapists on the effects of cancer care on an individual. She is a PORi-Certified Breast Cancer rehabilitation Therapist (oncology fundamentals + breast cancer rehabilitation) and has also taken courses on Oncology and the pelvic floor. She is a lifelong learner and will be continuing her dive into oncology with ongoing postgraduate courses.

Rosalina Mahendran MScPT
Physiotherapist (ortho & pelvic) + Director

Rosalina is the Director of our Downtown location and Cornerstone’s Pelvic Health Program. She has utilized her experience with patients who have DRA (Diastasis Recti Abdominis) and the pelvic health population to become the lead of Cornerstone’s Cosmetic Surgery Program. Through her extensive research and courses taken she has developed protocols that return patients to safe activity and manage surgical outcomes post cosmetic surgery.

She is passionate about bridging the gap between surgery and rehabilitation and providing individuals with quality access to care to optimize their results and function. Rosalina continues to stay up to date with current research in the pelvic health and DRA world and makes it her mission to provide her patients with compassionate and evidence informed practice. Utilizing her cosmetic surgical + rehabilitation knowledge she will be providing breast cancer rehabilitation to those undergoing reconstructive surgery. She loves to use her knowledge and skills to drive meaningful changes in people’s lives.

Heather TomarRegistered Dietitian

Heather is an experienced RD with over 25 years of experience in medical family practice and nutritional wellness. She strongly believes nutrition is the foundation of wellness. When used with other treatment strategies, balanced nutrition can help the body heal improve outcomes of any health condition. Heather has a passion for helping patients optimize their nutritional status by recommending changes that are personalized and sustainable. She assesses clients for any pre-existing nutrition deficiencies or eating challenges. Heather stays current with research in functional nutrition and helps her clients implement evidence-based strategies. She uses a Mediterranean/Anti-Inflammatory eating pattern knowing that foods high in phytonutrients and polyphenols from vegetables and fruits along with healthy proteins and complex carbohydrates are essential for recovery.

Heather coaches her clients on do-able changes that overtime will allow them to realize their overall health goals. She knows that eating and food choices are not static and provides her clients with many options for change based on readiness. Also, Heather helps clients plan for the recovery phase of their surgical journey, knowing that food preparation may be difficult for weeks afterward and provides idea and strategies to keep their diet healthy even when cooking and food preparation may be more challenging.