October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we acknowledge women who are living with, have died from, or have survived breast cancer.
Navigating recovery after breast cancer can leave you with questions and a range of side effects you may not know how to manage.
When patients walk through the door of our clinic, it does not feel like stepping into your typical doctor’s office. Our priority is to help patients feel seen and head onto their recovery journey as comfortably as possible. With private treatment rooms featuring warm tables, soft lighting, and spa-like linens, we aim to create an environment that feels welcoming and calming.
Each of the services at Taylor Physical Therapy & Wellness is centered on the idea of holistic wellness. That means caring for your mind as well as your body with services like massage therapy, mental health care, yoga and physical therapy, all under one roof, from providers that understand the complexities and effects of cancer treatment.
Treatment tailored to your needs
Massages
Massages may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of recovery from breast cancer, but they can be a big help in easing discomfort.
In the wake of breast cancer treatment, survivors are still left with managing physical conditions such as lymphedema, a condition where chronic swelling happens in the soft tissues.
We care for lymphedema through manual lymph drainage (MLD), compression therapy, skin care, and exercise and movement of the arm. Treatment plans are tailored to the patient’s specific needs with the end goal of helping them return to their lifestyle and hobbies pre-diagnosis.
This type of treatment is known as Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) and is dubbed the gold-standard of care for lymphedema therapy by the National Lymphedema Network.
CDT can be performed by expert physical therapists or massage therapists, and Taylor PT has both.
For example, our massage therapists can deliver specialized massages that relieve inflammation related to lymphedema by gently moving excess lymphatic fluid away towards working lymph vessels and lymph nodes; this helps to rid the body of toxins.
This non-invasive method of treatment fits well with our clinic’s woman-centered ambiance.
Pelvic Floor Therapy
Many women who are currently undergoing or have undergone breast cancer treatment are not informed about possible effects on pelvic health or options for treatment, like the potential for chemotherapy-induced menopause, reduced estrogen levels, or bladder leakage.
Pelvic floor therapy can help with many symptoms. Your personalized treatment may include bladder retraining, strategies to improve intimacy, pelvic floor muscle assessment, and more.
Dry needling and scar treatment
Following a mastectomy, breast cancer-related surgeries or radiation therapy, you may be left with scars that cause tightness and restricted mobility due to scar tissue having less elasticity than skin.
At our clinic, we offer dry needling, a process that uses a thin, sterile needle inserted into tight muscles known as trigger points to help release tension, improve circulation, and reset muscle activity.
While an effective way to manage scar pain, dry needling can also help with:
- Neck pain, tension headaches, migraines
- Shoulder and upper back tightness
- Low back pain and sciatica
It may sound similar to acupuncture, but dry needling is a safe and evidence-based treatment that can be combined with exercise, manual therapy, and pelvic floor therapy.
Yoga and gentle exercise
The same goes for our yoga classes, which are led by certified instructors who specialize in women’s health and offer gentle exercises and a pathway back into exercise as you recover.
Research among breast cancer patients shows that yoga can help:
- Improve physical functioning
- Improve sleep
- Reduce stress and fatigue
Our therapeutic yoga for chronic pain, for example, offers poses designed for comfort and a slow pace. Whether you’re new to yoga or getting back into the habit, you can expect small classes with personalized attention and a welcoming environment.
The breathwork and relaxation techniques you’ll learn are ones that you can take home with you after your session so you have methods to help you manage physical and emotional symptoms within and beyond our clinic.
The bottom line
No one woman should ever feel alone in navigating life during or after breast cancer. When a woman comes to Taylor PT & Wellness seeking treatment, answers, and support, we see more than a patient; we see family.
That’s why we provide care that is personalized, holistic, and effective, all under one roof from our own providers as well as those we partner with.
The road to recovery is a long one, and we are able to be alongside you every step of the way, one visit at a time.
We’re Here to Help
We offer:
- Free Pelvic Floor Screens
- 1:1 visits with Expert Therapists
- Therapeutic Massage
- Trigger Point Dry Needling