Despite ongoing medical advancements, cancer and cancer treatments still cause serious health issues. Pain, fatigue, limited mobility, severe weight loss and emotional distress are the most common issues reported. Additionally, people also may experience cognitive decline and problems communicating and swallowing, depending on the type and location of the cancer.
When the effects of cancer and treatments have left lasting impacts on your ability to function including sleeping, eating, and walking, your doctor may recommend inpatient cancer rehabilitation. Cancer rehabilitation can help you with these hurdles and your return to your life: to family, your job, and everything else important to you.
Cancer rehabilitation can also have benefits before and during your cancer diagnosis and treatment journey such as strengthening your body before chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery and improving the pain, fatigue and limited function caused by the cancer and treatments. Many national and international cancer care organizations recommend rehabilitation as an important part of your overall care plan.
But what exactly is cancer rehabilitation? And how does it work?
Cancer rehabilitation is a supportive healthcare service involving coordinated, multidisciplinary interventions delivered by trained professionals. These efforts are targeted at improving function and participation in life roles, work, and leisure activities.
Rehabilitation programs focus on helping you recover faster and more completely. They combine various healthcare experts, resources, and healing techniques to help you reach your full physical and mental potential during and after cancer treatment.
Who might be on your cancer rehabilitation team? Every patient’s needs are unique, but cancer-trained physical and occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and cognitive rehabilitation experts often play key roles. These therapists know how to identify and mitigate cancer-related challenges that you might be experiencing.
Physical therapists, for instance, will help you recover physical strength and mobility. Occupational therapists can help with your home and work activities like driving, caring for yourself and family, work related functions with phones, computers and equipment. Speech-language pathologists assist with speech, swallowing and eating problems and cognitive and mental challenges like trouble concentrating, remembering, and focusing.
Each person affected by cancer is truly unique, so no two cancer rehabilitation treatment plans are the same. At Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital our rehab care team assesses your current functional and medical challenges as well as understands your goals in how you desire to function in your daily life. With this information, an individualized treatment plan is developed, which consists of intensive rehab therapy of at least 15 hours per week.
Learn more on our website or contact us to learn more about our cancer rehab program.
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