Published on May 23, 2025

Helping Hands

How a Torrance Memorial Therapist’s Research is Changing Breast Cancer Recovery

For many breast cancer survivors, treatment doesn’t end after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Hormone therapy drugs such as aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are commonly prescribed to postmenopausal patients with estrogen-positive breast cancer to reduce estrogen levels, helping to prevent cancer recurrence. They reduce the chance of recurrence or spread by up to 60 to 65 percent when taken consistently. However, these life-saving medications can come with a difficult side effect: debilitating hand and wrist pain.

This is something Wanda Weimer, OT, CHT, CLT, a certified hand therapist and occupational therapist at Torrance Memorial, understands firsthand—not just as a specialist, but as a breast cancer survivor herself.

From Personal Experience to Groundbreaking Research

Diagnosed at 43, Wanda faced a new reality: while her treatment was working, the medications meant to keep her cancer from returning were causing unexpected pain in her hands — affecting everything from her work to daily activities.

“I had that moment of, 'What’s going on?'” Wanda recalls. “I started looking into the side effects and realized this was a very common problem—but there was hardly anything in therapy research  about it.”

Determined to fill this gap, Wanda launched a groundbreaking, multi-year research study to examine how hand therapy could help breast cancer patients experiencing similar symptoms.

Originally conceived in 2018 and published in The Journal of Hand Therapy in January 2025, her study, “The Effectiveness of Hand Therapy for Breast Cancer Survivors Experiencing Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Syndrome in the Hands and Wrists,” revealed that participants experienced:

  • Significantly less pain in their hands and wrists.
  • Significantly improved upper extremity function, making daily tasks easier to perform.
  • Improved grip strength, though the most notable improvement was in pain reduction.
  • Improved health related quality of life, with benefits extending beyond hand function to overall well-being.

Physicians knew their patients were struggling but weren’t sure where to refer them,” Weimer said. “Now, we have initial evidence that hand therapy can help.”

Wanda Weimer portrait photo

Wanda Weimer,OT, CHT, CLT

The study was a collaborative effort supported by Torrance Memorial’s Nursing Research Committee and guided by esteemed colleagues, including co-author  and retired  cancer survivorship coordinator Miriam Sleven, RN, MSN, OCN who has research experience, and the late Dr. Linda Lillington, RN, PhD who provided invaluable statistical analysis and guidance.

“The support I received from Torrance Memorial was invaluable,” Weimer said. “I truly hope others with a similar interest to study a topic they are interested in pursue it, because they will find there are so many tremendous people here willing to help.”

Enhancing Comprehensive Cancer Care

Wanda’s findings are significant: hand therapy can effectively reduce pain and improve function for women suffering from hand and wrist pain due to their cancer medication. But perhaps more importantly, her work can encourage more physicians and nurses to recognize these symptoms and refer patients for therapy.

Dr. David Chan, Breast Program director at Torrance Memorial and author of “Breast Cancer: Real Questions/Real Answers,” has seen firsthand how Wanda’s work has transformed care for his patients.

“Wanda was one of the pioneers in developing hand and finger exercise programs to combat these side effects, and I have to say—a large majority of the patients I refer to her report significant improvement,” he said.

“Her work has helped many women complete their treatment, and that directly impacts survival rates.”

Dr. Chan emphasized that AIs are most effective when taken for five to ten years, but musculoskeletal side effects often lead women to stop early.

“These medications don’t necessarily cause arthritis,” Dr. Chan said, “but they can make underlying issues feel worse. Suddenly, things like typing, opening jars, painting, or gardening become difficult. For some women, it’s just too uncomfortable to continue.”

He emphasized that while symptoms often peak around the six-month mark and may improve with time or activity, that doesn’t make them any less disruptive.

“This isn’t like taking an antibiotic for a week. These are long-term medications, and if joint pain becomes too disruptive, patients stop,” he said. “What Wanda has done isn’t just helping patients here—her work has national relevance. It’s going to translate to care in other states and likely other countries. She’s really making an impact.”

Empowering Women to Seek Help

Beyond raising awareness in the medical community, Wanda hopes her research empowers breast cancer survivors to advocate for themselves.

“I think a lot of women just ‘power through’ because they feel  grateful to be alive. But survivorship is a journey. If your hands hurt every single day, you don’t have to just live with it—talk to your doctor, ask about occupational therapy, and get the help you need.”

For many survivors, small modifications can make a big difference. Whether it’s using an electric jar opener instead of struggling with lids or getting more help around the house, hand therapy isn’t just about exercises—it’s about making life better.

Changing Lives, One Patient at a Time

With nearly 30 years at Torrance Memorial, Wanda has dedicated her career to helping people regain function and independence. But this study is more than just research—it’s deeply personal.

“I love working one-on-one with patients, building relationships, and helping them feel better,” she says. “Knowing that this study might lead to more women getting the help they need—that’s incredibly rewarding.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing hand and wrist  pain due to breast cancer medications, talk to your doctor about occupational therapy. Help is available—you don’t have to go through it alone.

Key Findings from the Hand Therapy Study

The research was conducted by Wanda Weimer, MA, OT, CHT, CLT, CEAS, and Miriam Sleven, RN, MS, OCN, both affiliated with Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

  • Who Was Studied?
    • 32 women who survived breast cancer and were taking a medication called an aromatase inhibitor (AI).
    • These medications can cause pain and stiffness, especially in the hands and wrists.
  • Why Was This Studied?
    • Many women experience hand and wrist pain from AIs, but little research has been done on how hand therapy can help.
    • The goal was to see if therapy could reduce pain, improve grip strength, improve upper extremity function, and improve health related quality of life.
  • What Happened in the Study?
    • 29 women completed the study.
    • They participated in hand therapy, which included pain reducing modalities, exercises, education on reducing stress on the hands, adaptive equipment, and custom splints.
    • They were tested before and after therapy on pain levels, grip strength, functional levels, and a health-related quality of life questionnaire.
  • The Results:
    • Less Pain – Women reported significantly less pain in their hands and wrists.
    • Better Function – They could use their hands more easily for daily tasks.
    • Slightly Stronger Grip – While their grip strength improved, it was not as significant.
    • Improved health related Quality of Life – Women felt better overall, not just in their hands but in their daily well-being.
  • Other Important Findings:
    • More than 60% of participants had trigger finger, a painful condition where fingers get stuck in a bent position.
  • Health care providers can pre-screen women for pre-exisiting hand problems and educate them to watch for hand and wrist symptoms. Most participants had improvement in 12 therapy sessions or less.