Back to Research

The Use of Foam Chip Pads
for Radiation Fibrosis
By Lesli Bell, PT/CLT-LANA

Breast Cancer patients who undergo surgery with or without radiation therapy may have complications of the affected chest wall following treatment. Some of these symptoms may include radiation fibrosis, breast/chest edema or lymphedema, pitting edema, fullness in the axilla or infra-axillary region, and pain (mild to severe). It has been reported in the literature that lymphedema of the breast may also mimic infection and, in extreme cases, inflammatory breast cancer.

Many of these symptoms can be successfully reduced or eliminated with Complex Decongestive Physical Therapy. This should include Manual Lymphatic Drainage by a trained lymphedema therapist, infection precautions, self lymphatic drainage, and foam chip pads with appropriate compression of the chest.

The foam chip pads may be put directly on the affected area, held in place by a compression garment or bandaging. Compression should not impede drainage of the lymphatic vessels in the affected upper quadrant, or increased pooling and symptoms may occur. Adjustability of the compression garment or bandage is preferred as the edema/fibrosis is dynamic and may change with variables such as weather and activity. Also, it is important to move the chip pad around on the affected area in order to most effectively break up the fibrosis. Of course, if the epidermis is open, fragile or otherwise compromised, use of foam chip pads and/or compression should be postponed until adequate healing has occurred.

In summary, when a patient presents with significant tissue induration and pain of the breast and/or chest tissue, many therapists report remarkable softening and decreased pain with lymphatic drainage in as little as two weeks with the above-described protocol of foam chip pads and compression garments such as the Bellisse® Compressure Comfort® Bra.

back to top