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When a person is having limitations in everyday functioning from a health condition such as cancer or has an injury or trauma they are recovering from, rehabilitation can help. The cancer rehabilitation services available at various Cancer Care Â鶹ӳ»­ sites can benefit all people with cancer who experience a change in quality of life after diagnosis, including all types and stages of cancer.

Cancer rehabilitation involves many types of healthcare specialists working together to develop a personal plan that considers your preferences, strengths, and goals. Types of cancer rehabilitation specialists include:

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapy (OT) helps to solve problems that interfere with a person¡¯s ability to do things that are important to them, including everyday things like self-care, going to work/ school and leisure/ social activities.

Physiatrists

Physiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialized training in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as physiatry. Cancer Physiatry is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation of patients with cancer. As experts in musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions, physiatrists are able to assess pain, weakness, restrictions, cognition and more to determine both a diagnostic workup and a treatment plan. Patients seen by a physiatrist benefit from earlier identification and treatment of rehabilitation issues as a result of the cancer or its treatment. Physiatrists focus their treatment on function by treating the whole person, not just one problem area.

Depending on a patient¡¯s problems or symptoms, physiatrists treat their patients using:

• Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies
• Corticosteroid joint injections, trigger point injections and botulinum toxin injections
• Prescriptions (for medications)
• Functional or return to work recommendations
• Bowel and bladder function assessments and treatment

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists are physical rehabilitation and mobility experts for those with medical conditions and the population as a whole. Interventions may include assessment, treatment, therapeutic exercise, patient and family education, wellness, prevention, and self-management. In adult cancer care settings, physiotherapists are uniquely skilled in:

• Lymphedema management
• Improving and maintaining functional and physical performance
• Preventing and managing pain, physical impairments, disabilities and limits to participation
• Promoting fitness, health and wellness

Speech Language Pathologists

Speech Language Pathology (SLP) can help with speech production, language, feeding and swallowing changes.

To access these specialists:

Contact your local cancer centre or search ¡°Rehabilitation Oncology¡± online on the .

Rehabilitation Oncology

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