PINK October, or Pinktober, marks the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, reminding us about the preventable menace of breast cancer and the importance of early screening. There is another part of the story, however, that deserves equal attention: the post-surgery recovery. For many women, recovery does not end when the tumour is removed.

Imagine a woman who has just won the hardest battle of her life. The tumour is gone. The doctors are pleased. Then she gets home and cannot comb her hair because she finds it difficult to raise her arm, reach a kitchen shelf, hang clothes or hold her beloved child. Pain, shoulder stiffness, weakness, tiredness, scar tightness and swelling in the arm can make daily life challenging. These problems are common, but women do not have to suffer silently.

Physiotherapy can help them regain movement, strength and confidence. Gentle exercises, stretching, scar care and proper guidance can reduce pain and stiffness. Physiotherapy can also help prevent or manage lymphoedema, a condition in which the arm becomes swollen and heavy. Unfortunately, many women are not aware of the need of due rehabilitation after breast cancer surgery. This needs to change.

Survivors must know that they do not have to live with this pain. They should ask their doctor for a physiotherapy referral, and then to make physiotherapy a regular part of their life. The care-giver in the family must also know that recovery is not over when the stitches are removed. It is over only when the survivor can again lift her arms to hug the loved ones. Breast cancer awareness should not end with diagnosis. It should continue until every single survivor can raise her arm, return to daily activities, and live with dignity.

Tayyaba Iqbal
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026