Chiropractic Aids Woman After Double Mastectomy

A case study published in the Journal of the International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine in June of 2022, documented chiropractic along with rehabilitation helping a woman recover from residual symptoms of a double mastectomy.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons approximately 144,000 mastectomies were performed in the US in 2020. The Mayo Clinic describes this procedure on their website as, "A mastectomy is an umbrella term used for several techniques to remove one or both breasts. In addition, the surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes to determine whether the cancer has spread."

This study notes that breast cancer is broken down into 4 stages. "Stage 1 is clinically non-invasive which means the cancer is isolated to the location in which it is found and is unlikely to spread to other parts of the body. Stage 2 is determined by the size of the cancer cells found; typically, the tumor will be measured between 2-5 centimeters to have this classification. Stage 3 is determined when the tumor is over 5 centimeters in size and more than 4 lymph nodes are involved. Stage 4 is classified when the cancer metastasizes beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body."

In this case, a 67-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for lingering symptoms she was experiencing after her double mastectomy. The woman had previously had stage 2 breast cancer and had a double mastectomy which included removing all cancerous lymph nodes.

Her symptoms included radiating numbness and swelling that went down into her hands. Additionally, the woman’s shoulder range of motion was decreased in all motions. She reported that her condition was affecting her ability to perform normal daily activities as well as having a negative impact on her job performance.

After an examination specific chiropractic care was started along with other therapies and home exercises. The woman reported that immediately after her first chiropractic care visit, she felt an increase in her shoulder motion as well as relief in tension throughout her upper body. After only two weeks of care, the woman reported that she no longer was experiencing any of her original symptoms.

In the study conclusions, the authors wrote, "While breast cancer is prevalent and well researched in many areas, this case offers a unique perspective as a chiropractic physician was an integral part of the rehabilitative efforts. The patient’s symptoms decreased after one treatment, and no symptoms were reported after 4 treatments."