Oncologic Therapy Gets Cancer Patient Back On The Dance Floor
May 24, 2022
Sharon Jennings knew how far she had come in her cancer recovery when she went out on the dance floor while on vacation with her daughter.
Her arm, which had been swollen and immobile from lymphedema, was back in full swing.
"I went from no movement to 'I'm waving my arms like I don't care' at a dance party," she said.
The 58-year-old Lynwood, Illinois, woman credits Franciscan Health oncologic physical therapist Paula Stout, DPT, with her turnaround from "the roughest patch" of her recovery.
Lymphedema
So what is lymphedema? Lymphedema is a disease where fluid builds up in several parts of your body, causing swelling. Your head, neck, limbs, stomach, and groin can each be affected by this disease.
There are several lymphedema related symptoms that you may notice before an official diagnosis, including:
- Limb swelling, including toes and fingers
- Limb heaviness
- Skin tightness or thickening
- Movement complications
- Clothing discomfort
- Leg itching or burning
- Hair loss
- Sleep complications
From Breast Cancer To Lymphedema Troubles
At first, Sharon didn't need physical therapy when she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, which spread to her lymph nodes.
She went through 5 1/2 months of chemotherapy, then had a mastectomy in August 2019. Even throughout these trials, she kept her upbeat attitude and felt like she "sailed through those treatments."
However, following the surgery, pain and lymphedema derailed that recovery.
"My arm was swollen to where I could barely move it," she said. "Holding a piece of paper, it felt like I was holding a brick."
Lymphedema can begin to affect your body when the vessels in the lymphatic system have trouble moving. This condition happens due to:
- Damage to the lymphatic system after surgery
- Blood flow complications
- Infections
- Cancer
- Cancer treatments
- Birth defects
Physical Therapy With A Cancer-Care Focus
Christopher Mussman, DO, Sharon's surgeon, noticed her swelling was more than it should have been and recommended physical therapy with Paula Stout, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, one of the first certified oncology specialists in physical therapy in the country.
"Paula recognized right away it was pretty bad. One of her jobs was to get movement back in my arm and keep it mobile, because I was beginning radiation treatment," Sharon said.
During the sessions at Franciscan Point Rehabilitation in Crown Point, Dr. Stout performed manual therapy to treat Sharon's lymphedema. She also taught Sharon home exercises, fitted her for a lymphatic massager, and provided a compression sleeve to continue to improve her mobility and control her lymphedema.
Dr. Stout also helped Sharon learn how to recognize when lymphedema discomfort is going to happen.
Physicians may only think of lymphedema in terms of physical therapy for cancer patients, but cancer-related fatigue is the number one side effect experienced by patients. For that, exercise is the top treatment, Dr. Stout said.
"We are the movement specialists," Dr. Stout said. "What they need is an exercise prescription."
The sessions with Dr. Stout also helped Sharon's recovery from breast reconstruction surgery. She was on that dance floor one month later and couldn't wait to share the video.
"I was just the proudest patient ever. I couldn't wait to show her," Sharon said. "She helped me through a traumatic time, and I'm one of her success stories."
