Availability and effectiveness of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation according to subjective assessment of women after mastectomy

Breast cancer is currently the most dangerous and common malignant neoplasm occurring in women. Diagnosis and treatment of cancers affect women’s mental, physical and social functioning. Demands for rehabilitation therapy of women after mastectomy are increasingly high. The aim of the present study was to assess the availability of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation and its effects on the health of women who underwent mastectomy. The study group encompassed 48 women after mastectomy. Diagnostic survey was carried out using the authors` questionnaire consisting of 20 closed questions. In the study group, 43.75% of women started rehabilitation one month after the procedure, 35.42% – two weeks after, 12.50 % – over two months after and 8.33% – one week after mastectomy. The most satisfied with the availability of rehabilitation were women living in towns with > 100,000 thousand and with 10,000-100,000 inhabitants. Women from villages and towns with about 10,000 inhabitants were rather dissatisfied. The largest group (29.81%) consisted of women in whom the physiotherapeutic procedures resulted in improved range of movement of the shoulder girdle on the affected side; swellings decreased in 24.04% and pain was reduced in 20.19% of women. Rehabilitation is an integral part of cancer treatment and recovery. In the study group, 46% of respondents found post-mastectomy rehabilitation effective. The place of residence had moderate effects on satisfaction with availability of health care services. According to patients, physical therapy exercises are most effective while whirlpool massages are least effective.