Rehabilitation after breast cancer surgery
After breast cancer surgery, the patient will remain in the post-operative ward for 1-2 nights. The first appointment with the physiotherapist will take place already the day after the surgery. The patient will be released from the hospital on the 2nd or 3rd day and can then head straight to the rehabilitation centre. Family members are welcome to join them in the rehabilitation centre.
Part of the program is a daily appointment with our nurse, who makes sure the wound and drains are clean and healing well. The nurse will photograph the wounds, if necessary, and contact Helena Puonti for consultation.
As part of the daily program, there are exercises with the physiotherapist, which are aimed to maintain arm and body mobility. The intensity and duration are planned individually depending on the patient’s energy levels.
Peer support is also available, in the form of meeting other former patients who have already recovered from breast cancer. In addition to the actual rehabilitation program, there are also plenty of other forms of leisure time activities available both in the Kruunupuisto and Punkaharju/Savonlinna area.
Hairdresser and cosmetologist services are also available as part of Kruunupuisto’s regular service.
Towards the end of the rehabilitation, Helena Puonti will examine the patient to make sure she is ready to return home – to her good, normal life.
Rehabilitation during chemotherapy or radiation treatment
In between chemotherapy or radiation courses, there are free days that can be used for rehabilitation. The aim is to reduce the effects of cytostatic drugs or radiation and to enhance wellbeing.
When in chemotherapy the patient can join the rehabilitation in between the courses of chemo. For radiotherapy patients, Clinic Helena and Kruunupuisto offer the rehabilitation program during weekends, when the treatment is paused.
The rehabilitation program includes individual physiotherapy exercises, an appointment with a psychotherapist, skincare (dermatologist or cosmetologist), outdoors sports and group exercises.
The personnel of Clinic Helena and Kruunupuisto will give individual instructions on chemotherapy or radiation side effects.
Rehabilitation after breast reconstruction surgery
After breast reconstruction surgery, the patient will spend the first 3-5 days in the hospital under the doctor’s surveillance. After that, the rehabilitation can start in the Kruunupuisto Health Resort.
In case of a Sensing Breast reconstruction, Helena Puonti will visit the patient in Kruunupuisto during the first days, to make sure the patient is healing properly.
The duration of the rehabilitation is 2 weeks.
During the first week, the nurse meets with the patient 3-4 times a day and is always available. The nurse takes care of the wound and the drain and helps the patient shower. Physiotherapy exercises for 0,5-1h twice a day are started too. They include getting up from the bed, standing up, arm and body mobility exercises and so on. On the fifth day, there will be an appointment with a lymph therapist.
In addition to the physiotherapy, the second week of the rehabilitation program consists of a psychotherapist appointment and optional sexual therapist appointment to discuss any questions the patient might have. In the second week, the patient can continue with independent indoor and outdoor exercises, and excursions to nature and the surrounding cities like Savonlinna are also possible.
Hairdresser and cosmetologist services are also available as part of Kruunupuisto’s regular service. Helena Puonti will examine the patient before the end of the rehabilitation ensuring she is ready to return home to normal life.
Postponed rehabilitation
There are regular group rehabilitation programs in Kruunupuisto (1-2 weeks) aimed at breast cancer patients.
The optimal time for rehabilitation is about a year after the diagnosis.
The aim is to provide peer support as well as expert guided support for patients with the same diagnosis.
In addition to group activities, each patient has individual appointments with a physiotherapist, psychologist, lymph therapist, sex therapist, cosmetologist and nutritionist.
The group program includes doctor’s lectures about breast cancer and breast reconstruction options and all the patients’ questions will be answered.
Different outdoor and leisure activities, like Night by the Fireplace, Sauna night etc. make the program enjoyable for the family too!