A mastectomy is a surgery to remove one or both breasts to treat or prevent breast cancer. There are several types of mastectomies including total mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, lumpectomy, and radical mastectomy, each with different procedures for removing breast tissue and lymph nodes. Post-mastectomy exercises are performed after surgery to increase blood circulation, muscle strength, restore range of motion, and prevent stiffness; they should be done three times daily under a doctor's guidance using equipment like rubber balls and ropes.

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

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. What are Post Mastectomy
Exercises?
These are exercise done by patients who
underwent mastectomy or the surgical
removal of one or both breasts.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Equipments:
Rubber ball
Rope (1.5 – 2 meters long)