Introduction.:
Rehabilitation should be an integral element in the recovery of every patient after a breast cancer operation. It decreases the incidence of the complications of treatment, the most common of which is upper limb oedema, paraesthesia and pain with decreased range of motion of the shoulder joint.

Aim:
Determine the patient satisfaction of physiotherapy following an operation for breast cancer.

Materials and methods:
52 patients receiving physiotherapy following a breast cancer operation were recruited into the study. The age range was between 42–80. Patients were given a survey containing 29 questions to answer.

Results:
In spite of physiotherapy, upper limb pain occurred in 38.5%,upper limb oedema in 61.5%, decreased muscle power in 53.8%, paraesthesia in 67.3% and decreased range of motion of the shoulder joint in 11.5%. The most effective technique for improving the range of motion of the shoulder joint were individual exercises (88.5%). Lymphatic drainage was most effective in decreased upper limb oedema (81.3%). Scar mobilization was most effective in increasing the elasticity of the wound postoperatively (66.77%). Furthermore, 94.2% noted improved upper limb function postoperatively. A correlation was also noted between the condition of the upper limb and the kinds of procedures performed and their reproducibility.

Conclusions:
Breast cancer operations significantly affect the upper limb and physiotherapy (in the patient’s opinion) is associated with a marked decrease in associated complications.