Aga Khan University Hospital launches clinic to manage breast cancer treatment complications

Surgery plays an important role in the management of patients with breast cancer. The vast majority of women in this country have mastectomy which essentially means removal of the breast. Though breast conservation surgery is slowly picking up for a small select population, many women are not candidates for this due to advanced nature of the disease at the stage of presentation.

According to Mr David Makumi, Manager, cancer program at the Aga Khan University Hospital; there are numerous initiatives on screening for early detection but very little attention has been paid to rehabilitation of those who have had breast cancer treatment. Women are often discharged from hospital with little or no advice on how to cope with altered self-image and complications like lymphedema.  This is further compounded by lack of dedicated rehabilitation services and high cost of the products that can enable women restore their sense of self-worth, dignity and confidence.

 “Most women are constantly self-conscious about how they look especially if the breast has been removed or if they have developed other complications’’ says Mr Makumi.  Patients have been known to develop depression, poor coping and other psychological problems due to difficulties arising from their altered image. This is a result of poor and or inadequate rehabilitation.

One of the commonest complications of breast cancer surgery is lymphedema which is a buildup of lymph fluid that occurs when lymph vessels or nodes in which fluid travels through are missing, damaged, or removed.  Any woman whose lymph nodes are affected by breast cancer treatment can get lymphedema according to Prof. Ronald Wasike, a Consultant Breast Surgeon.  In most cases, lymphedema develops slowly over time. The swelling can range from mild to severe. It can start soon after surgery and/or radiation therapy treatment. But it can also start months or even many years later.

The Aga Khan University Hospital in response to the unmet needs of women who have had breast surgery, launched the first ever dedicated breast cancer rehabilitation clinic in the country.  Victoria Musyoka, a lymphedema therapist at Aga Khan University Hospital said, “The clinic will be held every Friday and will handle post cancer treatment patients who have undergone surgery and radiation therapy to help them cope with complications.  Teaching sessions will be held during the clinic to empower patients with skills to perform self-lymphatic fluid drainage, management of shoulder stiffness among others.”

 The clinic will also avail breast rehabilitation products including breast molds, special brassieres, breast prosthesis and special compression arm sleeves.  The hospital already has a robust psychosocial rehabilitation program for cancer patients through different cancer support groups that meet on campus.

The launch took place during the second breast cancer survivors conference organized by the hospital to debunk breast cancer myths, after treatment complications and how they can be managed and also provide a platform for the survivors to share their experiences. The forum brought together a panel of oncologists from the hospital, rehabilitation therapists, nurses, breast cancer survivors from different healthcare institutions, breast cancer advocates and passionate people about breast cancer.

Over 140 breast cancer survivors attended the event which provided an opportunity for interaction and free consultation with hospital doctors, nurses and rehabilitation therapists on issues related to the disease.