This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we are bringing you educational articles on topics related to breast cancer throughout October. This article is focused on male breast cancer and physical therapy. Male breast cancer doesn’t get a lot of attention. Most cases of breast cancer impact women, so it makes sense that most people focus on female breast cancer. However, breast cancer does affect men as well, so in the interest of education, let’s talk about male breast cancer.
Male Breast Cancer
Many people mistakenly assume that breast cancer can only affect females. But the truth is that males can be diagnosed with breast cancer as well. We don’t know exactly why breast cancer forms in males, but we do know that older men are more at risk. Here are some symptoms that might indicate a male breast cancer diagnosis:
- A lump or thickness in the breast tissue
- Changes to the skin covering the breast, or the nipple (redness, scaling, etc.)
- Nipple discharge
If you recognize any of these signs, visit your doctor as soon as possible. When caught early, male breast cancer has a good survival rate.
Physical Therapy for Male Breast Cancer Patients
Male breast cancer treatment can include: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and/or surgery to remove the cancerous tumor(s). If a surgical procedure is recommended, it’s important to consult with a physical therapist prior to your procedure. A skilled rehabilitation specialist can work with you on various prehabilitation exercises to prepare you for the procedure, and also help you through your recovery after the operation. Many post-op breast cancer patients experience pain and a loss of range-of-motion. These can all be improved with a strategic physical therapy routine.
At OrthoRehab Specialists we utilize physical therapy techniques to treat patients who have sustained an injury, have a pre-existing condition, or those who are recovering from surgery. Breast cancer rehabilitation is one of our many specialties. We offer direct access to physical therapy and have been practicing in the state of Minnesota for over twenty five years. Our primary physical therapy clinics are located in Edina and Minneapolis but we treat patients throughout the Twin Cities metro, surrounding suburbs, and greater Minnesota. Contact us today to set up your appointment with one of our Minnesota physical therapy specialists.