Amanda Grilli, PT, CLT, is a Certified Cancer Coach specializing in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation. She is devoted to helping individuals overcome cancer-related side effects and reclaim their quality of life during, after and beyond cancer through hands-on therapy, therapeutic exercises and evidence-based information. Amanda is also the founder of Well Beyond Breast Cancer, (WBBC) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of the breast cancer community by expanding access to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy. She explains why she founded WBBC and how the organization supports breast cancer patients and survivors.
What is the purpose of Well Beyond Breast Cancer?
Two years ago, I founded WBBC after witnessing a significant gap in breast cancer care. Too many people were living with chronic pain, limited mobility, fatigue, swelling and other side effects—not because rehabilitative care didn’t exist, but because it wasn’t accessible.
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, a specialized area of physical and occupational therapy, has been shown to accelerate recovery, reduce cancer-related side effects, and restore one’s function and quality of life during and after breast cancer. Yet despite its proven impact, only 1–2% of cancer survivors ever receive this care. Financial barriers, inadequate insurance coverage, and systemic inequities linked to race and age keep many from the services they need.
I couldn’t accept that people were suffering unnecessarily when effective, life-changing care existed. And so, I founded WBBC. Today, WBBC is one of the first 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life of the breast cancer community by expanding access to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy.
How does WBBC support breast cancer patients and survivors?
At WBBC, we make sure Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy are within reach for anyone who needs them. We are committed to removing barriers so more people can overcome cancer-related side effects and live well beyond breast cancer.
Our resources include:
? Financial Assistance Program: We remove financial barriers to care by covering the cost of physical and occupational therapy appointments for those who are uninsured or underinsured. These sessions are provided by therapists specialized in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, helping individuals recover their mobility, strength, function, and independence during and after breast cancer.
? Educational Workshops: Our free, online webinars empower individuals with trusted, evidence-based information to manage their treatment-related side effects. Led by oncology experts, these educational sessions provide life-changing tools and support, helping people navigate recovery with greater strength and improved quality of life.
How does WBBC help promote awareness of lymphedema?
WBBC prioritizes education about lymphedema because it’s one of the most common, often overlooked, and misunderstood side effects of breast cancer treatment. We do this by offering free educational webinars where experts share evidence-based information about the early signs, risk factors, and gold standard treatment of lymphedema, Complete Decongestive Therapy. We recently partnered with Juzo to host a webinar about compression garments and how they are essential in lymphedema management.
Beyond webinars, we further increase awareness about lymphedema through community outreach with the help of our partnering Certified Lymphedema Therapists (CLTs).
We also help people find and connect with local CLTs, and, through our Financial Assistance Program, we make sure cost isn’t a barrier by covering Lymphedema Therapy for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
What resources are available to patients via WBBC?
At WBBC, our goal is to make sure survivors, previvors, and caregivers have the tools and support they need to live well beyond breast cancer. Here’s how we help:
? Financial Assistance for Care: We cover the cost of Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy visits for those who are uninsured or underinsured, so money isn’t a barrier to getting relief from pain, swelling or limited mobility.
? Connecting You to Specialists: We help patients find local physical and occupational therapists specialized in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy, and guide you through the next steps to get started with care.
? Free Educational Webinars: Our online sessions, led by experts, explain common breast cancer-related side effects in simple terms and share practical strategies for managing them.
? Community & Support: Through our programs and online channels, you’ll find a safe, welcoming space to learn, share, and connect with others who understand.
? Personalized Guidance: We offer one-on-one support to help you navigate breast cancer recovery, from answering questions about Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy, to helping you advocate for the care you need and deserve.
What else should breast cancer patients, survivors and caregivers know about WBBC?
Our mission doesn’t stop at helping individuals; we’re also working to change the future of breast cancer care. Too often, Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Therapy are overlooked, leaving survivors and previvors to live with treatable pain, swelling, or fatigue. We advocate for these therapies to be recognized as essential parts of cancer care, not optional extras.
Through our programs, partnerships, and community outreach, we’re raising awareness and breaking down barriers so that one day every person diagnosed with breast cancer is automatically connected to the rehab and lymphedema care they need.
Join us in building a more equitable, compassionate standard of breast cancer care, one where quality of life matters just as much as survival. If you’d like to learn more about our programs, get involved, or simply connect with a community that understands what you’re going through, we’d love to hear from you.
Explore our Financial Assistance Program and upcoming Educational Workshops at wellbeyondbreastcancer.org, email us at info@wellbeyondbreastcancer.org, and follow us on social media to stay up to date and be part of the conversation: Instagram @wellbeyondbreastcancer and Facebook: Well Beyond Breast Cancer.
Learn more about the lymphedema risks for breast cancer survivors and the compression garments available to help manage swelling on juzousa.com. Follow us on Instagram, @JuzoCompression and Facebook for educational and inspirational content throughout Breast Cancer Awareness month.