Breast cancer is one of the very common types of cancer in women. While there is a treatment for this health condition, the entire treatment process can be quite grueling. Women who go through surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy are likely to experience side effects, like pain, swelling, and fatigue. However, one way to maximize the recovery and performance of breast cancer treatment is the proper use of compression garments.
In this article, we will throw light on how compression garments help women recover from their treatment in Fort Smith Arkansas. But first, let’s understand what these garments are.
What are Compression Garments?
Compression garments are basic clothing items that snugly fit around certain body parts while applying some pressure on those parts. These compression clothing consist of fabrics like polyester, spandex, or nylon. All these fabrics are popular for their stretch and elasticity. Furthermore, compression garments are available in various forms, like bras, to target the treated body areas for faster recovery.
How do Compression Garments Work?
Compression garments work with an increase in blood flow to certain body areas. Whenever someone wears compression clothing, they often apply pressure to the muscles for pushing blood back to the heart. It helps in increasing blood flow while reducing muscle soreness, fatigue, and swelling. In addition, compression garments help in improving oxygen supply to the muscles while enhancing performance during mild exercises for recovery.
Benefits of Using Compression Garments for Breast Cancer Recovery
To treat breast cancer, patients often go through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. All these medical procedures may lead to certain side effects, like limited range of motion, pain, inflammation, etc. However, compression garments are useful in helping women recover from this condition with a reduction of side effects while improving overall well-being.
Also read: Lumpectomy and Radiation Treatment in Fort Smith, Arkansas: Optimal Results
Given below are some ways in which compression garments can provide better breast cancer recovery:
Decreasing Swelling:
In some cases, breast cancer treatment leads to arm and chest swelling. This condition is known as lymphedema. It occurs when the lymphatic system, which helps in eliminating excess fluids from the body, gets blocked or damaged. This can further lead to the accumulation of fluid in the impacted area, causing swelling, limited range of motion, and discomfort.
But the compression clothing work by applying pressure to the affected area, which improves lymphatic drainage while decreasing inflammation. The compression garment’s pressure on that particular area can push the excessive fluid out back into the lymphatic system for reducing inflammation. This ultimately improves a patient’s comfort.
Pain Reduction:
Breast cancer treatment leads to pain in the arms, chest, and shoulders. But thanks to compression clothing, it is easier to provide much-needed support to the impacted areas. The compression garment can offer the right amount of pressure to decrease muscle oscillation. This further prevents muscle tears and strains that can lead to pain. In addition, compression clothing can also improve blood circulation while reducing pain and inflammation.
Enhancing Range of Motion:
During the recovery phase after breast cancer treatment, there is a limited range of motion in the shoulders and arms. However, compression garments can improve the range of motion by offering the right amount of support to the impacted areas. These garments also offer the right pressure to stabilize the joints and muscles while improving the patient’s ability to move their shoulders and arms. It further helps women to regain their range of motion while performing everyday activities.
Preventing Complications:
The treatment of breast cancer also increases the risk of complications, like blood clots. It happens due to the immobilization of a patient for an extended period. But with the help of compression clothing, it is easier to prevent such complications as they improve blood circulation. This also prevents the pooling of blood around the affected area. The pressure applied by compression clothing can even help in pushing blood back to the heart, decreasing the risk of blood clots.
Improving Quality of Life:
Breast cancer treatment may leave a major impact on a patient’s quality of life. There is certainly physical and emotional stress in the affected areas, leading to decreased quality of life. But compression clothing can alleviate such symptoms while improving a woman’s quality of life. Hence, she can quickly get back to her everyday routine.
Pink Ribbon Inc. and Compression Garments
Pink Ribbon Inc. identifies the significance of compression garments in Fort Smith, Arkansas for breast cancer patients. Hence, they offer these garments to patients who undergo breast cancer treatment in the region. The organization understands the need for compression garments for patients to reduce pain, swelling, and fatigue after treatment. By offering these compression garments to patients, Pink Ribbon Inc. Supports their recovery while enhancing their overall well-being.
Conclusion
Breast cancer treatment is a challenging phase for any patient. However, the use of compression garments can alleviate the treatment symptoms while improving the recovery time. Pink Ribbon Inc. is offering much-needed support to patients in Fort Smith, Arkansas by offering these garments. Hence, patients can easily regain their range of motion while improving their quality of life to get back to their everyday routine.
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