What is cancer rehabilitation?
Cancer rehabilitation (rehab) is a program that is supervised by a doctor. It's for people who have had cancer. It's designed to help people return to activities of daily living (ADLs). People who have survived cancer may have physical, emotional, and social issues. This can affect their quality of life. These issues can happen no matter what kind of cancer they have had. Cancer rehab programs improve the well-being of cancer survivors. They can often improve function and reduce pain.
The cancer rehabilitation team
Cancer rehab programs can be held on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The cancer rehab team may include:
- An oncologist.
- A physiatrist.
- An internist.
- Other specialty doctors.
- Rehab specialists.
- A rehab nurse.
- A registered dietitian.
- A physical therapist.
- An occupational therapist.
- A social worker.
- A psychologist or psychiatrist.
- A recreational therapist.
- A case manager.
- A chaplain.
- A vocational counselor.
The cancer rehabilitation program
A cancer rehab program is designed to meet the needs of each person depending on the specific type of cancer and treatment. Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the program's success.
The program's goal is to help people return to the highest level of function and independence possible. At the same time, the program aims to help improve their overall quality of life physically, emotionally, and socially. These goals are often met by helping:
- Manage pain.
- Improve bowel and bladder function.
- Improve nutritional status.
- Improve physical conditioning, endurance, and exercise performance.
- Improve social, cognitive, emotional, and work status.
- Reduce hospitalizations.
To help reach these goals, cancer rehab programs may include:
- Using medicines and pain management methods to reduce pain.
- Exercise programs. This can help build strength and endurance.
- Patient and family education and counseling.
- Activities to improve movement (mobility) and decrease sleep problems.
- Help with ADLs. This includes eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, handwriting, cooking, and basic housekeeping.
- Stopping smoking.
- Stress, anxiety, and depression management.
- Nutritional counseling.
- Managing chronic illness or complications due to cancer treatments.
- Vocational counseling.
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