Diana Stumm - Recovering from Breast Surgery: Exercises to Strengthen Your Body and Relieve Pain

Recovering from Breast Surgery

This book is a valuable asset, not only for patients, but for health professionals. It is important not only for the actual treatment of problems that patients might encounter, but because forewarning and knowledge are the greatest assets in the fight against the fear that accompanies treatment of this disease.

M. Ellen Mahoney, M.D.
General Surgery

All women have pain and varying degrees of dysfunction in the arm following breast cancer surgery. This book is extremely helpful in explaining what causes this dysfunction and, more importantly, what to do about it.
Paula Kushlan, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation

A book that specifically addresses the physical problems of women following breast cancer surgery is long overdue. Although there are many excellent books that discuss the biology of breast cancer and the treatment alternatives, none of them focuses on the issues Diana Stumm discusses in this book.
The high incidence of breast cancer and the frequency of postsurgical complications such as lymphedema, shoulder contraction, and chest or arm pain, make this book necessary. I have worked with Diana Stumm for nearly two decades and have referred more patients to her than I can count. Her knowledge of breast cancer management is unsurpassed in the world of physical therapy. Her writing is as concise and understandable as her treatment plans and recommendations. I believe women will find this book a comfort and a help as they recover from breast cancer.
Francis A. Marzoni, Jr., M.D., FACS
Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Diana Stumm is uniquely qualified to pull together a reference work in this area, which has received little attention previously, and which should be enormously useful to women with breast cancer.
Jane B. Marmor, M.D.
Radiation Oncology, Sequoia Hospital District

Exercises to Strengthen
Your Body and
Relieve Pain

Diana Stumm, P.T.

Copyright 1995 by Diana Stumm

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, nor may it be introduced into any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher of this book. Brief quotations may be used in reviews prepared for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast. For further information contact:
Hunter House Inc., Publishers
P.O. Box 2914
Alameda CA 94501-0914

Acknowledgement is made to the National Cancer Institute for the illustrations that appear on pages 89-90, which originally appeared in Breast Exams: What You Should Know, NIH Publication No. 93-2000.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stumm, Diana.
Recovering from breast surgery : exercises to strengthen your body and
relieve pain / Diana Stumm. 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-89793-180-7
1. BreastCancerSurgery. 2. BreastCancerPatientsRehabilitation.
I. Title.
RD667.5.S78 1995
616.99449059dc20 95-3153

Proofreaders: Susan Burckhard, Lara Thompson
Index: ALTA Indexing Service

Customer Support: Sharon R.A. Olson, Sam Brewer
Order Fulfillment: A&A Quality Shipping Services
Administration & Rights: Mara Jess Aguil
Publisher: Kiran S. Rana
Set in Aldine and Egyptian by 847 Communications, Alameda CA
Printed and bound by Griffin Printing, Sacramento CA
Manufactured in the United States of America

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 First edition

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the following people, each of whom has contributed to the completion of this book.

Marilyn Woods, P.T., who started me on my way.

Phyllis Anderson, who taught me what women recovering from breast cancer need to know.

Hewlett Lee, M.D., and the late John Kieraldo, M.D., who introduced me to the great need for the role of physical therapy in the recovery from breast cancer.

To the five physicians who have faithfully supported and encouraged my work:

Francis A. Marzoni, M.D., general surgery, Palo Alto Medical Foundation;

M. Ellen Mahoney, M.D., general surgery, Palo Alto, California;

M. Richard Maser, M.D, plastic and reconstructive surgery, Palo Alto Medical Foundation;

Jane Marmor, M.D., radiation oncology, Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City;

Paula Kushlan, M.D., oncology, Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

Also to Sherry Blair, who patiently helped me tame the computer.

Tita McCall, who believed in me and in this book, and made sure the dream became a reality.

This book is written to honor the women who sought my help and left me with this legacy of their wisdom, which I now share with you.

Important Note

The material in this book is intended to provide a review of stretching exercises and self-care measures for breast surgery recovery. The contents of this book have been reviewed by medical experts and every effort has been made to provide accurate and dependable information. However, health-care professionals have differing opinions and there are continual advances in medical and scientific research, so some of the information may become outdated.

The publisher, author, and editors cannot be held responsible for any error, omission, or dated material. Any of the treatments described herein should only be undertaken under the guidance of a licensed health-care practitioner. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for any outcome of the use of these treatments in a program of self-care or under the care of a licensed practitioner.

If you have a question about the appropriateness of the treatments described in this book, please consult your health-care professional.

If you are like most women who undergo treatment for breast cancer, you probably know more about the disease and the procedures used to fight it than you do about recovery. This book will change that.