Cancer Rehab

Cancer Rehabilitation

Our Cancer Rehabilitation program specializes in the evaluation and treatment of physical, functional and neurological complications of cancer and cancer treatments. We can help with many issues and side effects of cancer treatments:

• Acute and Chronic Pain
• Weakness
• Muscle spasm
• Neuropathy
• Lymphedema
• Speech
• Balance
• Range of Motion

Our multidisciplinary team includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, lymphedema therapists and speech-language pathologists who work closely with your oncologist.  This comprehensive team takes a patient-centered approach to restoring function and independence while promoting healthy lifestyle practices.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Cancer Rehabilitation goes hand-in-hand with cancer treatment, recovery and survivorship.  Maintaining strength, nutrition and overall health work together to help the body recover from cancer treatments, and expertly guided therapy can help improve recovery from surgery and minimize loss of mobility and function. 

Prehabilitation

Cancer Prehabilitation or “Prehab” are interventions performed in a newly diagnosed cancer patient that are designed to improve physical and mental health outcomes as the patient undergoes treatment and beyond.  Cancer prehabilitation helps to prepare patients for the challenges of cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.  Prehabilitation is also used to establish baseline measurements to better monitor signs of lymphedema.

The goal of cancer prehabilitation is to prevent or lessen the severity of anticipated treatment-related problems that could lead to later disability. Some of the benefits differ depending on the population of cancer patients. For example, in a man with newly diagnosed prostate cancer, urinary incontinence is an anticipated treatment-related complication of surgery. A program of prehabilitation that focuses on pelvic floor strengthening can reduce incontinence.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition and achieve long-term health-benefits. An individualized treatment plan is developed for each patient using techniques that promote movement, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability.  Physical therapists are experts in how the body moves, and we will collaborate with you and your physician to help you achieve long-term health.

Physical therapy can help with:

• Strength
• Range of motion
• Pain
• Walking
• Balance
• Fatigue
• Neuropathy
• Pelvic pain or dysfunction
• Reduced bone density
• Shortness of breath
• Diminished cardiovascular health and endurance
• Scar adhesions
• Radiation fibrosis

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists help patients regain and build skills needed to function independently.  We assess and treat patients with physical and cognitive impairments by focusing on daily activities such as dressing, bathing, sleep, hygiene, meal preparation and home management.  We also teach patients and caregivers how to use adaptive equipment that can make daily life easier. 

Occupational therapy can help with:

• Upper extremity pain
• Loss of arm strength
• Reduced of range of motion
• Memory loss
• Decreased concentration
• Energy conservation
• Basic self-care
• Work and leisure activities
• Assistive devices

Lymphedema

Lymphedema therapists are specially trained physical or occupational therapists who help manage swelling of the arm, leg, groin, trunk, head or neck that can develop when surgery or radiation treatments affects the lymph nodes.  We assist in detecting and preventing the progression of lymphedema with clinical treatment and education, and aid in managing the condition at home.

Lymphedema therapy can help with:

• Patient education (infection signs/symptoms, skin care)
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Compression bandaging
• Garment fitting and wear
• Skin texture improvement
• Therapeutic exercise

Speech Therapy

Recent studies show that the majority of patients with head and neck cancer experience speech, cognitive, and voice difficulties after chemo-radiation treatment. An even higher percentage of patients experience aspiration (food/liquid going into the lungs) after radiation treatment.

Speech therapy provides individualized treatment plans to target your specific needs and goals. We provide specialty services to minimize the degree of short and long term effects of cancer treatment while working to maintain voice quality, speech intelligibly, cognitive communication skills, and swallow function through the course of cancer treatment and recovery process.

Speech therapy can help with:

• Swallowing: poor jaw range of motion, food sticking in throat, cough-choking with meals
• Speech difficulty: articulation, speech clarity
• Language and cognitive impairments: expressing thoughts, understanding directions/conversation, thinking skills for activities of daily living
• Voice and resonance disorders: hoarseness