Fit 2 Function Tamworth cancer physiotherapist Jen Vickery helps patients rehabilitate after treatment

It's Jen Vickery's job to try to get them there.

The Fit 2 Function physiotherapist specialises in cancer and lymphedema rehabilitation after she noticed a gap in treatment for regional patients.

Lymphedema is a side effect where swelling builds up due to removal of lymph nodes or chemotherapy knocking the lymph function out.

"I kept having women come in with neck or shoulder problems who have had breast cancer and developed a rotator-cuff issue due to changes to their peck muscles, tight shoulders or tears," she said.

"I thought surely there must be a reason all of these women are presenting with the same problem after treatment.

"The statistics for people who are referred to a cancer physiotherapist is five per cent, which is bad for people who have received treatment because it can lower the risk of reoccurrence by 35 per cent."

In her studies she learned that even after radiation or chemotherapy there can be shortening or tightening of muscles, loss of the range of movement in the shoulder and scar tissue around mastectomies.

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A lot of those patients were given the all-clear by a doctor but still did not feel back to who they were pre-diagnosis, Ms Vickery said.

"There's definitely an emotional component to what I do, a lot of these women haven't unpackaged the trauma they have been through in their experience," she said.

"So it's not just treating the physical, it's the emotional side of their cancer recovery where often clients will disclose to me, be able to unwind and vent.

"It's about developing more of an ongoing relationship, almost a friendship, because they have to trust me and I have to trust them."

Her next goal is to start cancer rehabilitation classes.