A mastectomy is a surgery to remove one or two breasts. It is performed either to treat or to prevent breast cancer.

Total mastectomy involves removal of the breast and nipple-areola complex but does not include axillary lymph node dissection.

Modified radical mastectomy is performed to treat invasive breast cancer. The procedure involves removal of the entire breast tissue, including the nipple-areola complex.

Lumpectomy - is a common surgical procedure designed to remove a discrete lump, usually a benign tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it from an affected breast.

Radical mastectomy - is a surgical procedure in which the breast, underlying chest muscle (including pectoralis major and pectoralis minor), and lymph nodes of the axilla are removed as a treatment for breast cancer.

What are Post Mastectomy Exercises?

These are exercise done by patients who underwent mastectomy or the surgical removal of one or both breasts.

Purposes:
To increase blood

circulation. To increase muscular strength. Prevents joints stiffness and contractures. To restore full range of motion of the arms and shoulders.

Principles:
Check doctor s order. To be performed three times a day for 20 minutes at a time. Let patient shower with warm water prior to exercise. Administer analgesic 30 minutes prior to exercise. If patient has a graft, exercises may need to be prescribed and introduced gradually.

Equipments:
Rubber ball Rope (1.5

2 meters long)