Evidence based physiotherapy for cancer recovery

At Laneways, we provide compassionate, non-judgemental care for every body.

If you are preparing for, undergoing, recovering from, or living with cancer, we’re here to support you through every stage of your treatment and recovery.

Many people experience changes such as swelling, lymphoedema, scar tightness, pain, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, or loss of function during or after cancer treatment. Physiotherapy can play an important role in managing these symptoms and supporting recovery.

We provide comprehensive assessment and evidence-based physiotherapy care tailored to cancer recovery and survivorship. Our treatment plans are individualised to improve movement, reduce discomfort, manage swelling, and help you rebuild strength, function, and confidence in your body.

Physiotherapist Nadia provides online physio consultation for exercise habit formation and getting started with exercise via telehealth.

Accredited Lymphoedema Management

Nadia is an accredited lymphoedema physiotherapist and a member of the Australasian Lymphology Association, with additional training in cancer rehabilitation and oncology care.

She works across Laneways and a large public health lymphoedema service in Melbourne, supporting people with a wide range of complexity—from early-stage post-treatment changes through to more complex lymphoedema and chronic swelling presentations.

This dual clinical experience means your care is informed by both specialist outpatient management and higher-level public health lymphoedema services, ensuring evidence-based, up-to-date, and practical treatment tailored to your needs.

What We Treat

Our focus is on supporting cancer recovery, improving function, reducing discomfort, and helping you move with greater confidence throughout and after treatment.

We also recognise the emotional and physical impact this stage of life can have, including fatigue, grief, and changes in identity and wellbeing.

Lymphoedema & swelling management

  • Breast, trunk, and upper limb lymphoedema
  • Post-cancer treatment swelling and fluid changes
  • Ongoing lymphatic monitoring and management

Post-surgical recovery & scar care

  • Scar tissue management following cancer or breast surgery
  • Abdominal and caesarean section scars
  • Soft tissue tightness and restricted movement
  • Axillary web syndrome (cording)

Breast cancer treatment-related conditions

  • Cording (axillary web syndrome)
  • Breast and chest wall pain or sensitivity
  • Post-operative pain and reduced shoulder mobility

Pain & musculoskeletal rehabilitation

  • Neck, shoulder, back, and hip pain
  • Postural and movement-related pain during or after treatment
  • Reduced strength, mobility, and functional capacity

Support and Treatment

Cancer Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Your care is individualised and may include a combination of:

  • -Comprehensive assessment and ongoing monitoring
  • -Education and self-management support, including risk reduction strategies
  • -Limb measurements and tracking of swelling changes
  • -Lymphoedema assessment, monitoring, and management
  • -Prescription and fitting of compression garments (standard and custom-made)
  • -Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
  • -Sequential intermittent pneumatic compression (SIPC) systems
  • -Photobiomodulation (low level laser therapy)
  • -Scar management and post-surgical tissue care
  • -Soft tissue and myofascial release
  • -Individualised exercise prescription and rehabilitation programmes

We offer consultations in clinic, via telehealth, and in-home where appropriate. Care may be accessed through Medicare Chronic Disease Management plans, Aged Care funding, and NDIS supports (where eligible). We can also assist with access to the SWEP government-funded garment scheme.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a clinical lymphatic massage technique designed to physically facilitate the movement of fluid within the body. Rather than a standard remedial massage, MLD is a targeted manual therapy used to move lymphatic fluid away from overloaded or congested areas, assisting in the reduction of limb volume and the improvement of patient comfort.

At our clinic, we provide MLD as a core component of management for:

  • Volume Reduction: Actively moving fluid toward functioning lymphatic pathways to reduce swelling and limb heaviness.
  • Lymphoedema Management: Targeted massage to clear congested tissues and redirect fluid to healthy nodes.
  • Post-Surgical Recovery: Assisting the body in processing post-operative fluid and inflammatory by-products to speed up recovery.
  • Lipoedema Support: Improving tissue comfort and reducing the “pressure” and tenderness associated with lipoedema accumulation.
  • Chronic Oedema: Managing persistent fluid retention related to vascular insufficiency or complex injury.

We integrate MLD into an accredited management plan, ensuring your treatment is supported by evidence-based skin care, exercise, and compression therapy.

Judgment-free, size-inclusive care

Evidence-based treatments that consider your whole story

Practical solutions that work for your life

We make it easy to get started

Contact us

Book an initial consultation online or simply pick up the phone. We’re here and ready to support you.

We listen & support

Share with us your experiences and the areas you’re looking for help and guidance.

Individualised solutions

We’ll tailor a plan to help you manage pain, experience greater mobility and develop consistent habits that work for you.

FAQ

No referral is required to schedule an appointment with us. As primary healthcare providers, physiotherapists are equipped to assess and manage various health conditions. Should further investigations be necessary, we will make the appropriate referrals.

Please bring any relevant medical reports or imaging scans to your appointment. This information will help us provide the most informed and effective treatment.

Yes! If you have a chronic medical condition, your GP may be able to create a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan-sometimes called a GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement. This plan can provide up to five Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per calendar year, which can include physiotherapy. You must seek this plan with your GP PRIOR to seeing us.

We also accept all major private health funds. While we cannot determine the exact rebate as it varies per individual policy, we will provide you with a receipt to claim from your health fund.

Yes we provide care to plan managed and self managed participants. We are not a registered provider. This means we adhere to the NDIS Code of Conduct, have an effective complaints management process (see below) and each staff member has undergone an NDIS worker screen but we have not gone through the NDIS business audit process. We cannot provide service to NDIA managed participants.

Yes, we look forward to engaging with you and your home care provider.

We kindly request 48-hours notice for cancellations. Appointments cancelled within 48 hours or missed without any notice will incur a fee equivalent to the consultation price.

Our clinic is located at 2 Holden Street, Fitzroy North. It is located on the ground floor with level access at the entry. The clinic is fully wheelchair accessible, including an accessible bathroom.

There is ample street parking on Nicholson and surrounding streets (1P, 2P and 4P). Public transport is accessible via the 96 tram. 

Our consultation room chair has a seat width of 85cm, armrests and a safe working load of 350kg

The treatment table has a width of 75cm and a safe working load of 250kg

We have larger sized towels (for draping).

Should you be of a size that is greater than the furniture provided as mentioned.  please get in touch. We have a range of options to support your care and will discuss how we can best provide you safe and comfortable care.

Please let us know if you have any specific or special needs or if there is anything we can do to make you feel more comfortable during your visit.

Yes, we have skills and experience in treating all manner of conditions at any body size. Additionally, we have a great professional network and will be happy to give you recommendations if we believe your care would be better managed elsewhere.

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plus-size ally?

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Register Your Interest

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Register Your Interest

Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch with more information.