This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re shining a spotlight on the important role allied health services can play in breast cancer treatment and recovery. Our Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Service includes a multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, occupational therapists, lymphoedema therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, and psychologists — all dedicated to supporting your recovery.

Here, Wesley oncology and lymphoedema physiotherapist Caroline Jones shares just some of the ways breast cancer rehab can help.

Movement, mental health care, and nutrition form a foundation for whole-person healing — because breast cancer recovery is about more than just getting through treatment. At The Wesley Hospital, our Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Service provides personalised rehab, which is crucial at every age and stage.

Why exercise during and after breast cancer treatment matters

Engaging in regular exercise — particularly resistance training — can play a powerful role in your recovery and long-term wellbeing. During and after breast cancer treatment, your body goes through significant physical and emotional changes. Exercise helps counter many of the side-effects of treatment and supports your body in healing.

Our physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and occupational therapists can tailor an exercise program that helps you to:

• Build and maintain strength: Resistance training helps combat muscle loss that can occur during treatment, preserving strength and physical function.
• Reduce fatigue: Contrary to what you might expect, regular physical activity can increase your energy levels and reduce treatment-related fatigue.
• Support immune function: Movement encourages healthy circulation and can support your immune system, which is often weakened during treatment.
• Improve mental well-being: Exercise is a natural mood booster. It can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, helping you feel more like yourself again.
• Enhance mobility and flexibility: Especially important if surgery or radiation has limited your range of motion. Exercise can aid in restoring flexibility and preventing stiffness.
• Boost bone health: Some treatments can affect bone density. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises help strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• Improve overall quality of life: Regular movement contributes to better sleep, improved self-esteem, and a greater sense of control during your recovery.

Why caring for your mental health is important

It’s not just your physical health that matters. Cancer treatment can take a significant toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing, too. The emotional impact of a diagnosis, the stress of treatment, and the changes to your body can lead to feelings of anxiety, low mood, and isolation. That’s why caring for your mental health is just as important as your physical recovery.

Our psychologists can support you with:

• Coping with the emotional impact of diagnosis and treatment: A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, triggering shock, fear, sadness, and anger — sometimes all at once. Our psychologists provide a safe and confidential space to explore these emotions, helping you process your experience, make sense of your feelings, and build resilience during each stage of your treatment and recovery journey.
• Managing anxiety, depression, and changes in mood: Mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression are common throughout cancer care. Whether you're struggling with uncertainty, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, or feeling low or emotionally numb, psychologists can offer evidence-based strategies — like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and stress management techniques — to help you regain a sense of control and emotional stability.
• Navigating body image, identity, and relationship changes: Cancer can affect how you see yourself — physically and emotionally. Changes to your body, energy levels, and roles within your family or workplace can be difficult to adjust to. Our psychologists support you in rebuilding confidence, adapting to a new sense of self, and maintaining healthy communication with loved ones during this time of change.

How nutrition can fuel recovery

Nutrition is another key part of your care. During treatment, you may experience changes in taste, appetite or digestion — especially if you’re undergoing chemotherapy.

Our dietitians can help you:

• Navigate taste changes and food aversions.
• Ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs for healing.
• Support bone health — particularly important if your treatment affects bone density.
• Manage weight changes or digestive side-effects.
• Build sustainable, healthy eating habits that nourish your body and support long-term health.

Breast cancer care services at The Wesley Hospital

The Wesley Hospital provides a range of services to people experiencing breast cancer, from screening and diagnostics at Wesley Breast Clinic, to a range of Cancer care services including surgery and treatment, rehabilitation, and counselling and peer support at Choices Cancer Support Centre.

To access the Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Service, phone 07 3232 6190 or email Wesley-Dayrehab@uchealth.com.au