Are you aware of any evidence supporting or negating the use of modalities such as a TENS unit to assist with pain during or after exercise for breast cancer particularly with patients with metastases?
Answer
Let me first say that, in general, we want to minimize the use of modalities in patients who have had a cancer diagnosis. We are not going to be putting heat on any patient who has had a cancer diagnosis. We are typically not going to be using ultrasound. We are not going to be doing E-stim. However, patients that are having pain and already have known metastases, if they are cleared by their doctor, they could go through a trial of TENS. Typically metastatic pain is a bone pain and TENS is not going to affect that. TENS is going to give them more superficial pain control, and it works well with musculature pain. This is not something that you are going to have a lot of opportunity to use, but if you, the patient, and the physician want to trial that, I think it is possible.
Andrea Branas, PT, MSE, MPT, CLT
Andrea Branas is a lead physical therapist at Good Shepherd Penn Partners in Philadelphia, PA. Andrea works in the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania Health System providing patient care, education, leadership and training in the area of cancer rehabilitation. Andrea’s areas of clinical expertise include lymphedema, pelvic floor rehabilitation, breast cancer rehabilitation and exercise for cancer related fatigue. In her current role, Andrea uses her expertise to help cancer survivors reach their physical potential by promoting rehabilitation starting at the time of cancer diagnosis. She is currently a collaborator on an NIH Funded Dissemination grant to look at strength training for survivors of breast cancer. Andrea has served as a guest lecturer for women’s health and cancer content at Arcadia and Widener Universities and the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey DPT programs. Andrea received her Masters degree in Physical Therapy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 1998 and her Master’s of Science in Engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. She is currently working towards her transition DPT at Arcadia University.
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