The post-mastectomy rehabilitation group program: Structure, procedure, and population demography

Memorial Hospital, New York City, clinical section of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, has developed a Post-Mastectomy Rehabilitation Group (PMRG) which provides a comprehensive structured program to enable the mastectomy patient to regain functional use of her arm and shoulder on the affected side, and to adapt functionally, psychologically, and emotionally to the loss of her breast and the diagnosis of cancer in the shortest time possible. This first segment of an evaluation of the program outlines the PMRG structure and operating procedures and presents basic demographic data (age, type of mastectomy, preoperative activity status) for 863 of the 1,400 mastectomy patients who attended the program since inception in 1970. Additional reports will focus on the physical and psychologic aspects of recovery and readjustment.