Breast cancer rehabilitation: Clinical examination and outcomes assessment

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. The treatment for breast cancer occurs along a protracted time period and includes many different disease treatment modalities. These treatments carry with them a large number of adverse effects that negatively impact function in both the short term and long term. It is necessary for rehabilitation providers to interface with patients being treated for breast cancer throughout the continuum of care so that interval assessments can be conducted to identify emerging impairments and alleviate disability. To achieve this, the rehabilitation provider must have an understanding of the clinical measurement tools best suited for examination and assessment of breast cancer-related impairments and disability. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence supporting the use of various clinical measurement tools for the breast cancer population and highlights the implementation of rehabilitation examination and assessment along the continuum of disease treatment.