You can usually begin physical therapy within a few weeks after surgery, depending on your surgeon's recommendations and personal healing rate. For many of our patients, we start about 2-4 weeks post-op, once cleared by your doctor and you have a new prescription to start physical therapy.  Your physical therapist will work closely with your medical team to ensure we’re timing therapy in a way that best supports your recovery. 

Yes, you can sign up to attend our pre-op educational event, which is offered once a month, or make a one-on-one appointment with a physical therapist for a pre-op evaluation.  During our pre-op class or your pre-op evaluation with a physical therapist, we will educate you on what to expect from surgery, as well as provide safe exercises to perform and a list of helpful equipment for after surgery. 

Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your appointment. For your first and second visits, we recommend wearing a tank top to allow for an easier lymphedema assessment. If you are receiving ongoing lymphedema treatment, a tank top is also ideal, as upper extremity measurements may be taken regularly. You may be asked to undress from the waist up so your therapist can assess your chest wall and perform effective manual therapy. Loose clothing will also help you move more comfortably during exercise. 

Physical therapy should not be painful. We perform manual therapy to relax your muscles and decrease pain.  We design exercises to be gentle and therapeutic, focusing on promoting healing, not causing discomfort. Some movements may feel slightly challenging, but your therapist will always work within your comfort range, gradually increasing the intensity as you’re ready. 

The duration varies depending on each individual’s goals and progress. 

Yes, with time and consistent rehab, most people can return to their usual activities. We will guide you on when to safely add back specific movements and exercises and make modifications if needed. Your safety is our priority, so we’ll ensure you feel prepared before resuming daily tasks and favorite activities. 

Initially, it’s best to avoid high-intensity activities, heavy lifting, and movements that may strain your healing tissues. Your therapist will provide a list of safe exercises tailored to your stage of recovery and may adjust these as you progress to ensure you’re safely performing your exercise program.  

Through manual therapy, scar tissue mobilization, stretching, and strengthening exercises, physical therapy can help reduce pain, improve flexibility, and restore normal movement patterns. We will work on targeted areas to help alleviate tightness and discomfort, helping you move more freely over time. 

Your physical therapist will provide you with home exercises and self-care tips to support your progress. Stretching, postural exercises, and lymph flow activities are common elements of home care, and we’ll give you guidance on how to perform these safely. Following these recommendations can help you maintain gains made in therapy. 

Physical therapy can actually help you feel more energized over time by gradually building strength and improving endurance. While it’s natural to feel a bit tired after exercise, our goal is to boost your endurance and reduce fatigue in the long run. Your therapist will ensure we pace the exercises to match your energy level and recovery process. 

Many studies have shown that exercising helps improve mobility, helps to regain strength, improve endurance, improve mood, as well as reduce the risk for lymphedema.  

After any surgery, it is important to watch for signs of infection, which may include, increased redness at the incision site, increased swelling and warmth around surgical area, increased pain, drainage of pus or fluid from the incision, high fever and chills lasting days or weeks. 

If you notice any of these signs, please contact your healthcare provider right away for assessment and care. Early treatment can prevent further complications. 

• Specialized Oncology Physical Therapy: Available in-person and via telerehabilitation, covering areas such as edema and lymphedema management, scar tissue mobilization, fatigue reduction, strength and flexibility training, and family support, all within the physical therapist's scope of practice. 

• Exercise Programs: We offer both individual sessions and group exercise classes.  

• Monthly Pre- Op Education Event: Offers resources and guidance on what to expect after surgery for better preparation.  

• Monthly Education Events: Resources and guidance on important survivorship topics to support life beyond treatment.  

• Massage Therapy: Specialized lymphatic/oncology massage therapy aimed at comfort and relaxation for breast cancer patients. 

• Counseling Services: Offering both individual sessions and all stages group sessions. 

• Nutritional Services: Virtual one-on-one sessions are available for nutritional guidance.  

These services are crafted to enhance well-being and provide compassionate support through every phase of recovery and beyond. 

Before your first appointment, please fax your referral from your healthcare provider and complete the new patient forms available on our website. Once you've submitted the forms, call our office to follow up and schedule your appointment if you haven’t heard from our staff. 

We are in-network with most insurance providers.  If your insurance does not cover our services, we offer financial assistance to ensure no patient is turned away. 

To apply, simply complete a brief application on our website with some basic information.  Once submitted, a staff member will reach out to discuss the available coverage options and guide you through the next steps of the process.   

For a returning patient, we will email new updated forms to be filled out prior to your appointment.  If you have been absent for more than 3 months or had a new surgery since your last visit, we will need a new referral from your healthcare provider.