Current rehabilitation processes do not prevent long-term impairments after treatment for breast cancer in Australia.

BACKGROUND

Our aims were to determine if and how advice regarding physical rehabilitation (arm-specific and general exercise) was provided after treatment for breast cancer, as well as the prevalence of physical impairments following treatment for breast cancer in an Australian population.

METHODS

Members of the Review and Survey Group of the Breast Cancer Network Australia participated in a validated web-based survey.

RESULTS

Participants included 186 women who underwent axillary node dissection and 201 who underwent sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer. Of the respondents, 75% reported receiving arm-specific exercise advice following surgery and 44% were advised on the importance of general exercise at some point during treatment. Despite this, upper limb impairments were commonly reported during treatment and 1 year after surgery, particularly for women who had undergone axillary node dissection.

DISCUSSION: Although rehabilitation advice is commonly offered to women treated for breast cancer in Australia, pain and reduced arm function remain common in women more than 1 year after surgery.