Cancer Facts
(Source: National Cancer Institute)

• Treatment after Breast Cancer
• Treatment after Head and Neck Cancer
• Tight or Painful Scars
• Radiation Fibrosis
• Joint Restrictions
• (Swelling) Lymphedema
• Swallowing Difficulty

Treatment after Breast Cancer

After breast cancer, there may be problems with tight scars, tight radiated areas, and restricted motion of the shoulder.

Swelling (lymphedema) can occur when lymph nodes have been removed from the armpit. The swelling can be obvious, such as when the arm becomes bigger, or it can be less obvious and can cause tissues to become firm. People may have swelling in the chest or armpit, even if the arm is not swollen.

Sometimes people have both tightness and swelling.  These two things together tend to make each problem worse.  Treatment needs to be given that will work on both problems at the same time.

Treatment after Head and Neck Cancer

After head and neck cancer there may be problems with tight scars, tight radiated areas, and restricted motion in the jaw, neck, and shoulder. 

Swelling (lymphedema) can occur when lymph nodes have been removed, or when people have had radiation.  The swelling can be obvious, or it may be less obvious and can cause tissues to become firm.  There may be swelling in the head, jaw area, neck, upper chest, or shoulder.

Tightness and swelling can cause swallowing problems.

Some people have a condition that is called trismus.  They have difficulty opening their mouths because of tight jaw muscles or because of tightness in other tissues around the jaw.

When the front of the neck is tight because of surgery or radiation, people may find that they are standing with their heads jutted forward.  When there is weakness in the shoulder muscles, people’s shoulders may become hunched forward.

Sometimes people have both tightness and swelling.  These two things together tend to make each problem worse. Treatment needs to be given that will work on both problems at the same time.

Treatment for Tight or Painful Scars

Surgical scars can become raised, tight, or bound down to the area underneath. There can also be pain. Myofascial release can improve the texture and appearance of scars. The scars become flatter, softer, and more comfortable.

Treatment for Radiation Fibrosis

Sometimes radiation can cause the radiated tissues to become firm and inflexible. This is called radiation fibrosis.

Marian Lord has developed a gentle comfortable treatment that improves radiation fibrosis. The treatment is a modified form of myofascial release. Gentle pressure and a light stretching technique cause the radiated area to become softer, more comfortable, and able to move better.

Treatment for Joint Restrictions

Some people are not able to move their joints freely after cancer surgery. Joint motion can be improved and the area can become more comfortable through the use of gentle joint mobilization, myofascial release, and exercises.

Treatment for Swelling (Lymphedema)

When a person has had lymph nodes removed, there can be a disruption of the flow of fluid in tissues. This can cause fluid to accumulate, and the area becomes swollen or firm. The swelling is called lymphedema, and it can occur not only where the surgery was, but also in a large area surrounding the surgery site.

Manual lymph drainage moves fluid out of an area that has swelling. Fluid is moved into other areas of the body, where the extra fluid can be handled more easily. Manual lymph drainage is gentle and comfortable.

Marian Lord has received training in many different lymphedema treatment methods. She also has developed new methods to treat the firmness (fibrosis) that is often present with lymphedema. Therapy softens tissues, decreases swelling, and makes the area more comfortable.

Some people need to wear compression garments as a part of their lymphedma program.

Treatment for Swallowing Difficulty

There are many different things that can cause problems with swallowing.  Two of the things that cause swallowing dysfunction are tightness and swelling.

In normal swallowing, the different structures in the neck move freely.  For example, the larynx (voice box) moves up and down each time you swallow.