October reminds us to prioritize our health, particularly breast health. But as expat women living in Spain, our healing journeys look different from what the textbooks describe. The physical challenges we face are uniquely ours – shaped by travel, climate changes, and the beautiful chaos of building a new life abroad.
The Expat Body: More Impacted Than You Think
Have you noticed changes in your body since moving to Spain? Perhaps increased swelling during those summer months? A persistent tightness in your chest or shoulders that wasn’t there before? You’re not imagining it.
Climate matters more than we realise. The Mediterranean heat, while glorious, affects our lymphatic system; the body’s natural drainage network. When temperatures soar, our bodies retain more fluid. For women who’ve undergone breast cancer treatment, or those managing lymphedema, this isn’t just uncomfortable; it can significantly impact recovery and daily comfort.
Travel takes a toll. Those flights back to visit family? The long drives exploring Spain? Air pressure changes and extended periods of immobility can cause fluid buildup and swelling. If you’ve had lymph nodes removed or radiation therapy, your body’s ability to manage this fluid is already compromised.
Habits shift, and so does our health. We love our new lifestyle – the late dinners, the siestas, the relaxed pace. But changes in sleep patterns, meal times, and activity levels affect everything from our posture to our circulation. Many expat women unconsciously hold tension in their upper bodies, adapting to new environments, languages, and social dynamics.
The Rehabilitation You Might Be Missing
Here’s what many women don’t realise: breast cancer treatment doesn’t end when treatment ends. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can cause:
- Restricted shoulder mobility and chest tightness
- Chronic muscle tension and postural changes
- Lymphedema (swelling in the arm, chest, or breast area)
- Scar tissue adhesions that limit movement
- Persistent pain or discomfort
As an osteopath and physiotherapist, I see many women who’ve completed treatment but are still struggling physically. They’ve been told they’re “cancer-free” but don’t feel free in their bodies. This is where specialised physical rehabilitation becomes essential.
Lymphatic drainage therapy is particularly powerful. This gentle, specialised massage technique supports your body’s natural drainage system, reducing swelling, improving mobility, and promoting healing. Combined with tailored exercises and postural work, it can transform how you feel in your body.
You Deserve to Feel Strong Again
Whether you’re currently in treatment, recovering, or supporting someone who is, please know this: the physical challenges you’re experiencing are real, valid, and treatable. Your body has been through immense change—perhaps compounded by the unique stresses of expat life.
This October, let’s honour our healing journeys by acknowledging what our bodies need. Let’s recognise that recovery is holistic, ongoing, and deserves expert support.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
If you’re experiencing swelling, restricted movement, or persistent discomfort following breast cancer treatment—or if you simply want to understand how to support your lymphatic system better in the Spanish climate – I’m here to help.
Visit my website to learn more about lymphatic drainage therapy and how physical rehabilitation can support your unique healing journey.
And if this message resonates with you, please share it. Another expat woman in your community might be quietly struggling, not realising that support and solutions are available.
We care for your healing journey- every step of the way. 🎗️
Physiotherapy Costa del Sol
