{"id":11586,"date":"2025-05-07T15:30:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T13:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/the-healing-touch-physical-therapy-and-scar-care-after-a-mastectomy\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T22:28:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T20:28:25","slug":"the-healing-touch-physical-therapy-and-scar-care-after-a-mastectomy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/the-healing-touch-physical-therapy-and-scar-care-after-a-mastectomy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Healing Touch: Physical Therapy and Scar Care After a Mastectomy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Healing begins not only in the body, but also in the soul<\/span><\/h2>

A mastectomy is not just a surgical procedure\u2014it is a life-changing event that affects a woman both physically and emotionally. Although the scar remains a visible sign of a past battle with cancer, it can also become a place of healing. It is precisely through mindful touch, breath, and gentle care that a woman can reconnect with her body. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why Not Be Afraid of Scars?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For many women, the scar left after a mastectomy is a symbol of trauma. Many do not want to see it or even touch it. But experts agree: consciously engaging with the scar is the first step toward healing. <\/span><\/p>

\u201cOur minds tend to push the scar to the back of our minds. But it is precisely by engaging with it that healing begins,\u201d<\/i> says physical therapist Katar\u00edna Hanuliakov\u00e1.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How do you care for a mastectomy scar?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Daily Massage <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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We only refer to it as a scar once the surgical wound has healed, the stitches have been absorbed or removed, and the scabs have fallen off. The tissues must grow together for us to consider it a high-quality scar. This process takes several weeks. On average, 6\u20138 weeks after surgery. <\/span><\/p>

We can promote the healing of a surgical wound through proper care, ventilation, breathing, lymphatic taping, gentle touch, and positioning.We don\u2019t start<\/b> the massage itself <\/b>until the scar has formed!<\/b><\/span><\/p>

Massage helps improve blood circulation, reduces scar tissue formation, and restores elasticity to the tissues. You can massage a scar basically anytime\u2014for example, after an evening shower, when your skin is warm and soft. However, it\u2019s best to devote the first moments of each day to yourself and your body<\/b>\u2014in other words, to take care of yourself first thing in the morning. <\/span><\/p>

Recommended procedure:<\/span><\/h4>

  1. Consciously breathe into your chest area.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  2. Gently stroke your breast and explore how the touch itself feels to you.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  3. Gently run your fingers over the scar.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ol>

    Frequency of massages:<\/span><\/h3>

    5\u201310 minutes a day. Even a short ritual can have a big impact on healing. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    What causes adhesions under a scar?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    If the scar is left untreated, tissue adhesions may form, which slow down airflow, create a barrier, limit lung capacity, and cause tightness and pain. <\/span><\/p>

    Other common problems associated with adhesions include:<\/span><\/h4>

    • restricted movement of the hand or arm,<\/span><\/p><\/li>

    • pain when breathing,<\/span><\/p><\/li>

    • a feeling of tension or the presence of a \u201cforeign object.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul>

      That is another reason why it is important to massage the scar regularly and monitor how it changes.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      Respiratory Physical Therapy\u2014The Forgotten Power of Breathing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      After chest surgery, a woman\u2019s breathing in that area is naturally restricted. Breathing becomes more superficial and shallow, leading to a lack of oxygen in the body and subsequent fatigue, tension, and reduced organ function. Once the wound has healed, it is very important to restore respiratory capacity and support the development of the chest and intercostal spaces. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      A simple breathing exercise:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      • Place your hands on your ribs.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

      • Take a deep breath through your nose, filling the sides of your chest,<\/span><\/p><\/li>

      • Exhale slowly through your mouth.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

      • Repeat for 3\u20135 minutes every day.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul>



        <\/p>

        \u201cBreath is a bridge between the body and the mind. When we are consciously aware of it, we heal ourselves from within,\u201d adds <\/i>Katar\u00edna Hanuliakov\u00e1, an intimate physical therapist.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Interview: Katar\u00edna Hanuliakov\u00e1 on the Power of Touch <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        What is the most common reaction women have to a mastectomy scar?<\/span><\/p>

        Most women don’t want to see or touch their scar. It’s a form of psychological defense. But only when she consciously confronts the scar can she accept it as a part of herself. Every touch of the scar is an act of healing. <\/span><\/p>

        What is the most important first step?<\/span><\/p>

        A gentle touch. Place your palm on the scar, nothing more. Just breathe and be present with that spot. <\/span><\/p>

        How often should you get a massage?<\/span><\/p>

        Every day. Even if it’s just 5 minutes. It’s not about performance, but about giving loving attention to yourself and to the place that needs to heal. <\/span><\/p>

        Why include breathing exercises as well?<\/span><\/p>

        Because breathing affects the nervous system, it relieves tension and helps a woman reconnect with her body. At the same time, breathing supports the functioning of all the body\u2019s organs. <\/span><\/p>

        What is your message to women?<\/span><\/p>

        Your body is strong. That scar is proof that you survived\u2014that you fought for your life. You deserve compassionate care and respect. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Healing begins not only in the body, but also in the soul A mastectomy is not just a surgical procedure\u2014it is a life-changing event that affects a woman both physically and emotionally. Although the scar remains a visible sign of a past battle with cancer, it can also become a place of healing. It is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-posts"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11586"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11588,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11586\/revisions\/11588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tobe.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}