Inspiring Breast Cancer Recovery Story: Sam's Journey with us! - Fighting Fit Physiotherapy Nerang Gold Coast

I want to share with you a powerful and touching story.

One that inspired me as a physio and to spread a message to breast cancer sufferers that there is hope and that life following the cancer diagnosis and surgery is abundant and can be full of you reaching your full potential

This blog success story will look into the presentation of Sam and her journey following breast cancer surgery and profunda artery perforator flap (PAP Flap) for the reconstruction of her breasts.

Not only did Sam have breast surgery, she had surgery sites in her upper legs where the PAP utilizes skin and fat from the posterior thigh for breast reconstruction.

Sam presented to me 10 weeks following her surgery with laboured mobility, sitting using cushions to support her.

She had difficulty standing, and rolling over was so painful and difficult, not to mention reaching upward with her arms and shoulders for dressing and performing what is usually simple tasks like tying her hair up.

She was so stiff in the middle back with soreness and neck pain all day, everyday since. Fortunately, Sam didn’t experience axillary web syndrome post her surgery which can complicate matters more.

Following our first consult and in depth assessment, we developed some goals together.

This is so important as it gives direction, purpose and when we achieve something small, we can move forward to something big!

Sam’s short term goals we for her to reduce the sharp pain in her sternum so she could move her shoulders again allowing her to not need pillows for support, allow her to roll over and restore those once simple activities of daily living that she had lost, like tying her hair and reaching for a cup.

Once we achieved this she wanted to be able set her sights on some longer goals.

Things that she felt got her back to some normality in her life.

Things like the ability to get back to work, to be able to play with kids again and return an exercise routine that included getting into the gym and strengthening her for life!

Initially, Sam and I came up with a plan together to get her moving more comfortably, through the chest, shoulders, hips and legs.

We used a combination of treatment techniques such as manual therapy for pain and soft tissue mobilisation, set a daily exercise routine that she could do and complete.

Plus provide her with strategies and education around pacing her usual activities, starting small and taking one step at a time forward at a time.

Sam was very keen to get moving again

To give you an example of what this looked like, so not to scare you with exercise.

We began with simple movement for the shoulders and hips in comfortable positions such as laying down to reduce the weight of gravity and her limbs so she could move freely and normally.

This quickly progressed to sitting then standing exercises, lifting against gravity and then progressed with time against increasing levels of bands and resistance for strength.

As weeks moved forward, the sharp stabbing symptoms with lifting her arms were easing.

Sam was able to return to reaching higher things at home, to tie and wash her hair, bending to tie shoes and being able to dress herself easier and put a backpack on. Sitting for longer periods became more comfortable and getting out of bed was now easy.

The simple things, yet important things, we don’t realise are until we are dealt cards that make this extremely difficult in life.

Each step of the way we tested, retested and showed her the improvement being made.

Some small, some big.

But proof Sam was moving in the direction she wanted gave her the wins or runs on the board she wanted to see in her life again.

Not long after, Sam excitedly reported back being able to spend the day at dreamworld with her children, performed a small jog to retrieve a football and was able to work in the garden again.

Huge changes from needing a pillow to hold her up while sitting!

As we progressed through post surgical follow ups with her specialists she was eventually and excitedly cleared for heavier lifting, we progressed from body weight and band resisted exercises where she had developed a strong base for progressing her exercise and developed a gym-based exercise program to expose her to more demanding exercise.

With the help of Renae our Exercise physiologist our exercise progressed and results on retesting were improving more and more.

Initially picking up a 8 kilogram kettlebell on the floor and chest, pressing a pair of 4 kilogram dumbbells was daunting and difficult initially.

Keep reading to see what she does now!

Sam continues to stay consistent and enthusiastic in her completion of exercise in the gym with us every week.

Not only has her ability to tolerate lifting weight improved, she has also learned a life skill.

Proper lifting technique and working out safely and appropriately in a gym.

Now more than a year on Sam can comfortably deadlift over 60 her own body weight, perform bench presses, heavy back squats in the gym.

She can jump, run, pick up her children and play football in the park.

Without issue!

Sam’s journey is still ongoing but has made exceptional progress with her recovery so far. And in reality, that’s only a year in!

We have so much more to go and progress, more than she originally thought possible when she turned up and sat down in my consult room.

We’ve achieved her short term goals, we have achieved her once long term goals.

Now it is onto bigger and better goals, things she didnt think possible even prior to breast cancer.

The journey is tough, one that we don’t wish upon people, but it can also create a change in ones life to set sights on other opportunities in their life and health.

Brenda Samosa

05:52 07 Nov 24

I had a really bad shoulder and had been seeing a different physio for 3 months (from a different place) I got told Tyson was good. After just a few sessions the movement was coming back. I’m 66 and was worried I would have to stop surfing. But with a lot of help from Tyson I’m back in the waves ( thank you so so much)

Cyana Ferguson

08:16 30 Oct 24

Steve Harris

22:33 15 Oct 24

Great team, all friendly, super helpful and first class clinical advice and a big shout out to my Physio Noah with my shoulder issue

Andrea Bell

05:33 19 Sep 24

These guys are the best in the biz 🎉

Ryan Brockett

04:20 18 Sep 24

Shout out to Max from fighting fit physio. He helped me out massively straight after shoulder surgery and back into work and sports in no time. Couldn’t recommend anyone better!

Scotty

08:31 31 Jul 24

Five star service from Max & the team!
Professional & very thorough, you know that patient outcomes are of the highest priority.
I highly recommend this business.

Riley Wilson

08:27 14 Jul 24

Be AWARE they’ll immediately try to commit you to multiple follow up sessions after your initial consultation. This happened to me and then I later found out that as it just so happens, they have a cancellation policy that says you have to pay 100% of the consultation fee for cancelling. They failed to tell me this when they were pushy in committing me to 6 sessions after my consult, so that was a really nice little surprise.

I was already uncomfortable with how pushy they were in having me commit to so many sessions, so when I heard about the policy I just cancelled all together. So, I can’t speak further to the quality of their service throughout therapy phase. FYI this was also a few months ago now, it’s possible (though unlikely) they may have changed the policy. Just ask the question.

Megan Shelley

06:51 03 May 24

Fighting Fit Physiotherapy is hands down the best physio I've encountered. Having tried multiple physios for various injuries, I always find myself coming back to them. Their expertise consistently exceeds expectations, helping me get back to my sport faster than I thought possible. Their personalized approach and attention to detail make all the difference. I could not recommend a better or more exceptional physio team!

Gina Matthews

08:41 24 Mar 23

Can't recommend this place high enough. I was in so much pain with my knee an had been for months through advise an exercises I'm now looking forward to returning to gym an back riding my horses in endurance thank you so much

Courtney Halse

01:36 29 Nov 22

Kyle was knowledgeable, personable and professional. He saw me through my second pregnancy and continued to work with me until 6 months post partum on issues with my back. Would recommend anyone to go and see him.

Also shout out to Georgia on the front desk. She makes you feel welcome and brings a sense of warmth to the place!

Alli Davenport

08:07 04 Nov 22

After hip replacement surgery in February I wanted toget back into weight training legs, I started with Mitch 18 weeks ago and after a lot of hard work and sweat I am able to safely train again, I cannot thank Mitch enough for his support,encouragement and knowledge. The staff are friendly and helpful and I always looked forward to my session's

Robert Parkinson

10:50 15 Aug 22

This is the second time I have been treated by the team at FFP.
As a health professional myself I have been impressed with the level of care I have received from all members of the team.
The personalised treatment and rehabilitation programs have produced excellent results and I have completed both programs pain free and feeling stronger than before my injuries.
During the program there was constant communication and follow up and they were very accommodating with my work schedule.
All in all it was a very holistic experience and I would highly recommend the service.

Kiri Canavan

07:30 08 Jun 22

Tyson was amazing! We came up with an 8 week plan at my first consultation with weekly check ins and updates to exercises. 8 weeks later, I am pain free and able to train harder than ever. Highly recommend and the staff are all fantastic and super accomodating!

I want to share with you a powerful and touching story.

One that inspired me as a physio and to spread a message to breast cancer sufferers that there is hope and that life following the cancer diagnosis and surgery is abundant and can be full of you reaching your full potential

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