Reclaiming Strength After Breast Cancer Surgery: How Physical Therapy Supports Healing and Recovery

By Nicole Lombardo Stoltz, PT, DPT, CSCS ///

October is both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Physical Therapy Month — a powerful reminder that healing is not just about surviving cancer, but reclaiming strength, comfort, and confidence. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime — a sobering statistic that underscores how many lives are touched by this disease.

At Scerbo Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation in Edgewater, NJ, we’re honored to stand with survivors, fighters, and loved ones, offering expert care and heartfelt support every step of the way.

The Challenges After Breast Cancer Surgery

Surgeries such as lumpectomies or mastectomies can save lives, but they often come with lasting physical effects. Many patients experience:

• Pain and tightness in the chest, shoulder, or arm

• Limited mobility, making it difficult to lift, reach, or perform daily activities

• Lymphedema, or swelling due to lymph fluid buildup

• Fatigue and loss of strength from treatment and inactivity

These challenges can feel discouraging — but they don’t have to define recovery. That’s where physical therapy plays a life-changing role.

How Physical Therapy Helps After Breast Cancer

At Scerbo Physical Therapy, our clinicians create targeted, one-on-one treatment plans to help patients recover function, manage symptoms, and move forward with confidence.

Here’s how our approach helps:

1. Restoring Range of Motion

Gentle, progressive stretching and guided exercises help patients regain shoulder and arm movement. This is key for returning to normal activities like dressing, reaching overhead, or carrying items comfortably.

2. Managing and Preventing Lymphedema

Our therapists are trained in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and compression therapy techniques that encourage lymph flow and reduce swelling. We also teach patients self-care strategies to maintain results at home.

3. Reducing Pain and Tightness

Scar tissue massage, soft tissue mobilization, and guided mobility work can relieve post-surgical stiffness and nerve sensitivity — making daily movement less painful and more natural.

4. Rebuilding Strength and Confidence

Rehabilitation isn’t only about healing tissue — it’s about restoring power. Our tailored strengthening programs safely rebuild endurance and coordination, helping patients return to the activities they love.

5. Providing Emotional Support and Motivation

Physical therapy is deeply personal. Our compassionate therapists offer more than exercises — they offer encouragement, education, and motivation during one of life’s toughest recoveries.

What to Expect at Scerbo Physical Therapy

Every patient at our Edgewater clinic receives an individualized care plan based on their surgery type, current symptoms, and recovery goals. Treatments may include:

• Manual therapy to improve tissue mobility and comfort

• Therapeutic exercise for flexibility and strength

• Postural and breathing retraining for better alignment and energy

• Education on home exercise programs and lymphedema prevention

• Ongoing progress monitoring to ensure steady, safe improvement

Our goal is simple: to help each patient feel stronger, move better, and live without fear or restriction.

Standing Together in October

This October, as we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Physical Therapy Month, we invite you to take action:

• Support a survivor. Reach out, listen, and offer help.

• Schedule an evaluation. If you or a loved one is recovering from breast cancer surgery, talk to us about how physical therapy can support healing.

• Spread awareness. Share this message to help others learn about the role of physical therapy in recovery.

At Scerbo Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation, we’re here to help you or someone you care about take the next step toward a full, active life after breast cancer.

Take the First Step Toward a Healthier You

If you’ve been living with pain, recovering from an injury, or undergoing orthopedic surgery, and want to move and feel better, there’s no better time than now to take action.

Visit us at our Scerbo Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation clinic in Edgewater, NJ, and discover how our team can help you get back to doing what you love—stronger and more confident than before.

Dr. Nicole Lombardo Stoltz, PT, DPT, CSCS, received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Rutgers University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware, where she long-jumped and triple-jumped for the Women’s Track and Field team. It was through her track career that she developed a passion for fitness and health. After her undergraduate studies, and throughout PT school, Nicole spent time personal training and coaching CrossFit, deepening her knowledge of functional exercise, gymnastics, and olympic lifting.

If you would like to book an appointment with Dr. Lombardo or any of our expert licensed physical therapists, please call us at (201) 941-2240 or use our convenient online appointment form.