New hydrotherapy class for breast cancer patients

A new hydrotherapy rehabilitation course has been set up for people receiving treatment for breast cancer.

The group, named ‘The Worcester Waders’, is open to anyone who has had treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.

Aimed at reducing pain and helping to improve movement, the course at Worcestershire Royal Hospital has helped more than 50 patients during a six-month trial period.

The Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven Charity has now agreed to fund the course indefinitely.

It involves carrying out physiotherapy exercises in a warm-water swimming pool to help aid rehabilitation following treatment.

A majority of patients rated the pain in their arms, shoulders, or hands before the course as moderate, whereas the most common answer after completing the course was none, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has said.

Sessions take place in the heated hydrotherapy pool at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on a Tuesday evening and are run by a group of radiographers from the Worcestershire Oncology Centre who are specifically trained to undertake the hydrotherapy sessions.

Radiographer Molly Jones, who helped set up the group, said: “The patients who took part in our trial fed back that they loved completing the course, found it really enjoyable and experienced marked improvement in their physical and mental health. "

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