In the context of breast cancer, osteopathy can be very useful. We talk about it with Axel Benet, osteopath and general director at Osmose Paris.
– Why Doctor: How is an osteopath useful in the context of breast cancer?
– Axel Benet: When the surgeon comes to perform his mastectomy, fibrosis is created around the scar. The body always adapts and will therefore be attracted around this fibrosis, especially in the case of the breast which has a strategic place since it is located between the lower and upper part of the thorax. This fibrosis will surely impact other limbs, for example a shoulder, the ribs, the costal grid which will surround itself, which will create other symptoms. And ultimately most patients do not come for the scar itself but for other typical symptoms: neck pain, stomach pain or rib pain… when the origin is in fact the scar. Then comes osteopathy which is oriented towards the overall care of the body, but also to inform the patient that it is all the healing of the breast which leads to an adaptation of the body.
“We come to take the scar in its entirety to try to mobilize, traction and restore mobility to the entire thoracic quadrant.
There are specific techniques. For example, we take the scar as a whole to try to mobilize, traction and restore mobility to the entire chest area.
Do the scars resulting from mastectomies always cause this type of fibrosis?
Today, doctors are able to carry out the operation by resorting less and less to the scalpel but rather to tearing so that there is maximum self-regeneration and the fibers stick themselves back together naturally.
Mastectomy: “a scar will fibrose and will therefore stop movements”
It’s not really “relaxing”, that’s not the right word. It’s more about giving it life and mobility again. A scar will fibrose and will therefore stop movements, what we do is give movement, mobility to all the impacted structures: skin, muscles, ribs.
What other symptoms may lead a woman to consult you?
A frozen shoulder, for example, will cause neck pain and therefore women may experience radiation in the arms, tingling, compression points, cramps or even digestive symptoms (reflux, stomach pain, etc.). But also for painful periods, pain during sexual intercourse or even for fertility problems.
Cancer: osteopathy is “ultra complementary during the chemotherapy process”
Can we consult an osteopath during chemotherapy?
Yes quite. On the contrary ! Chemotherapy will cause symptoms. Chemo burns everything, it inflames the whole body. An inflamed body can cause tendinitis, pain in the back, ribs, ankles, etc. Osteopathic care is extremely complementary during the chemotherapy process.
How many sessions are needed?
It all depends on the patients. Sometimes a single session is enough to have a spectacular result, other times it requires two or three sessions.
Watch the interview in pictures:
@pourquoidoctor Axel Benet, osteopath in Paris, explains how osteopathy can be part of the care pathway for a person who has had a #mastectomy or one #breast cancer. #pinkoctober ♬ original sound – whydoctor