More people are living after breast cancer than ever before. In the United States, 4.3 million women are living with a history of breast cancer, and that number is projected to reach 5.3 million by 2035 (American Cancer Society). But survival is not the finish line. For many, breast cancer and its treatment leave lasting physical, emotional, social, and financial effects that can change the way they move, work, care for their families, and participate in the life they love.

Breast cancer treatment places extraordinary demands on the body and mind. While some side effects improve with time, many persist long after active treatment ends, affecting daily life, independence, work, relationships, and overall quality of life. A landmark long-term study found that approximately 90% of women experienced at least one treatment-related adverse effect within six months of diagnosis, and more than 60% continued to report at least one side effect six years after diagnosis (Schmitz et al., 2012).

These challenges often include pain, fatigue, limited shoulder and arm mobility, weakness, lymphedema, neuropathy, balance changes, scar tissue restrictions, cognitive changes, difficulty returning to exercise, and trouble performing everyday activities.

The hopeful news is that many of these problems can be minimized, treated, or improved through specialized physical and occupational therapy known as Breast Cancer Rehabilitation. With care from oncology-trained rehabilitation professionals, patients and survivors can reduce cancer-related impairments, restore function, rebuild strength, and reclaim their physical, emotional, social, and vocational well-being.

Rehabilitation is not just about recovery; it is about helping people live the fullest life possible during and after cancer.

Research and national standards increasingly recognize cancer rehabilitation as an essential part of high-quality cancer care. Leading survivorship guidelines, including those from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, recognize the importance of identifying and addressing the physical and psychosocial effects of cancer and its treatment. The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer also requires accredited cancer programs to have a process for referral and monitoring of cancer rehabilitation services (NCCN; ASCO; CoC).

Together, these standards affirm: healing should include more than treating the disease. It should include restoring function, quality of life, independence, and participation in the life each person wants to live.

Yet despite the evidence, cancer rehabilitation remains dramatically underused. Experts estimate that only 2% to 9% of cancer survivors receive the rehabilitation services they need (Pergolotti et al., 2019). This medical care gap has profound consequences. When rehabilitation needs go unmet, survivors experience lower quality of life, diminished physical functioning, and higher levels of distress.

So, why aren’t more people receiving Breast Cancer Rehabilitation?

Even with strong evidence and national guidelines supporting rehabilitation, access remains limited. Individuals often face persistent barriers, including:

• Financial barriers, including high out-of-pocket costs and inadequate insurance coverage.

• Limited awareness among patients, survivors, and healthcare providers about Breast Cancer Rehabilitation.

• Geographic and system-level barriers that restrict access in many communities

• Shortages of oncology-trained rehabilitation specialists

• Inconsistent referral pathways and limited institutional support

• Failure to identify and document functional impairments, leaving many rehabilitation needs unrecognized

• Disparities tied to race, ethnicity, age, income, and other social determinants of health

These barriers are well documented across cancer rehabilitation research and breast cancer survivorship studies, including barriers at the patient, provider, health system, payer, and policy levels (Pergolotti et al., 2019; Kline-Quiroz et al., 2024; Pergolotti et al., 2021).

At Well Beyond Breast Cancer, we believe every person deserves access to the rehabilitation care they need to heal, function, and live well beyond breast cancer.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of the breast cancer community by expanding access to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation. By advancing equitable access to this essential care, we aim to close gaps in the cancer care continuum, strengthen survivorship outcomes, and help create a healthier, more equitable future for every individual and family affected by breast cancer.