Table 2.
Rehabilitation services and needs among breast cancer survivors
| Presurgery measurement, n (%) | |
| Shoulder ROM | 2 (5.7) |
| Performed by | |
| Self-measured | 1 (2.9) |
| Physical therapist | 1 (2.9) |
| Arm circumference | 6 (17.1) |
| Performed by | |
| Self-measured | 2 (5.7) |
| Physical therapist | 2 (5.7) |
| Nurse | 2 (5.7) |
| When was rehabilitation education received*, n (%) | |
| Never | 7 (20.0) |
| Presurgery | 15 (42.9) |
| Within first month postsurgery | 8 (22.9) |
| Later | 8 (22.9) |
| Who delivered rehabilitation education*, n (%) | |
| No one | 7 (20.0) |
| Physical therapist | 13 (37.1) |
| Surgeon/oncologist | 6 (17.1) |
| Chiropractor | 1 (2.9) |
| Other (massage therapist and nurse) | 15 (42.9) |
| Referred to physical therapy, n (%) | |
| By healthcare professional | 9 (25.7) |
| Self-referred | 14 (40.0) |
| Not referred | 12 (34.3) |
| Reason for referral*, n (%) | |
| Shoulder ROM | 17 (48.6) |
| Upper body muscle strength | 10 (28.6) |
| Lymphoedema | 12 (34.3) |
| Scar tissue | 5 (14.3) |
| Cording | 1 (2.9) |
| Peripheral neuropathy | 1 (2.9) |
| General exercise | 7 (20.0) |
| Setting of rehabilitation care, n (%) | |
| Private practice | 9 (25.7) |
| Public facility | 7 (20.0) |
| Combination of private and public | 4 (11.4) |
| Alternative or complementary treatment†, n (%) | 23 (65.7) |
| Self-managed upper body issues, n (%) | |
| During treatment | 32 (91.4) |
| After treatment | 32 (91.4) |
| Sufficient support to self-manage upper body issues | 18 (51.4) |
| Upper body issues, n (%) | |
| Prior to surgery | 5 (14.3) |
| Currently | 35 (100.0) |
| Number of upper body issues, mean (min-max) | mean=4.5, min=1, max=9 |
| Current upper body issues, n (%) | |
| Tightness | 33 (94.3) |
| Numbness | 23 (65.7) |
| Muscle strength | 20 (57.1) |
| Shoulder ROM | 18 (51.4) |
| Pain | 16 (45.7) |
| Skin changes (fibrosis/scarring) | 15 (42.9) |
| Lymphoedema | 14 (40.0) |
| Cording | 10 (28.6) |
| ADL limitations | 7 (20.0) |
| Skin infection/cellulitis | 1 (2.9) |
*Participants could choose more than one answer, so % is above 100%.
†Examples of alternative/complementary treatment: massage therapy, diet, mindfulness, manual lymph drainage, yoga and meditation.
ADL, activities of daily living; ROM, range of motion.