Is cancer rehab right for me?
You may be newly diagnosed with cancer, in the middle of treatment or years into survivorship. For your unique situation, you may wonder if cancer rehab is right for you.
Cancer rehabilitation is about addressing cancer-related issues that are impacting you physically, functionally or cognitively.
Cancer rehab is not new but it is under used. It is an important component of cancer care, no matter where you are on your journey.
Our goal is to help you do what matters most.
What challenges can cancer rehabilitation help with?
The side effects of cancer and its treatments can often impact daily life. Many people going through treatment can feel as if their world is turned upside-down.
Being active is tiring. Work saps your energy. Tasks seem harder.
ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation therapists understand the difficulties of coping with cancer and its treatment. They can help with:
- Pain
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Weakness
- Movement
- Memory issues
- Self-care challenges
- Swelling
- Balance problems
- Tingling in hands and/or feet
- Painful scars or scar tissue
- Sexual health
- Speech or swallowing issues
- Bowel or bladder issues
Three phases of cancer rehab
Newly diagnosed or new cancer treatment: Prehabilitation
Prehabilitation comes before starting your cancer treatment. That’s the “pre” in prehabilitation, aka “prehab.” This works to prepare you for surgery, chemo or immunotherapy, hormonal or radiation therapy.
A cancer rehab therapist is your partner in prehab, helping you improve your ability to get through treatment and bounce back faster.
Active treatment: Rehabilitation
Comprehensive cancer rehabilitation is a key to your recovery – even during treatment.
During treatment, staying active is incredibly important to tolerate cancer treatment.
Learning how to safely exercise and maintain mobility while addressing any physical, functional and cognitive needs that arise is critical for recovery.
“Comprehensive cancer rehabilitation services... have the potential to improve individuals’ functioning, restore their capacity to engage in employment and life roles, and optimize their quality of life from cancer diagnosis through survivorship.”
Many patients tell us about their positive experience working with our cancer rehabilitation therapists:
ReVital Success Spotlight #1:
A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) came to us for cancer rehabilitation because she was too tired to do anything outside the home. She had even stopped chemotherapy because she was too fatigued to leave the house. Her ReVital therapist created a 1-2 times per week therapy program to safely exercise and become strong enough to resume her treatments. She even reduced her fatigue enough to go on a European vacation with friends.
After treatment/survivorship: rehabilitation
Cancer rehab goals can focus on any long-term or late effects of treatment.
You may still be experiencing one or more effect of treatment that is impacting your ability to do what matters.
But don’t lose hope. We can help.
For example, cancer rehabilitation can help with addressing the impact of:
- Lingering pain and fatigue
- Numbness/pins and needles in your feet and hands
- Difficulty moving around
- Lung and heart issues
- Brain fog
Cancer rehabilitation can help you get back to:
- Taking care of yourself
- Returning to work
- Life roles
Long-term cancer survivors can also benefit from rehabilitation services.
Even years after treatments, symptoms can flare impacting your day-to-day. If this is you, and you’re wondering if cancer rehabilitation might help, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Knowledge is power when fighting cancer
Are there restrictions on who can do therapy?
Many states allow access to therapy without a doctor’s referral. Some states place restrictions on this direct access.
So talk to your doctor and ask for a referral, or contact us. We’ll work with you and your doctor on understanding your medical history.
Is there an age limit on who can benefit from cancer rehabilitation therapy?
No.
Cancer can happen at any age. Cancer rehabilitation can make a positive impact for all ages.
ReVital Success Spotlight #2:
One of our therapist’s happiest success stories is of an 89-year-old female who had completed treatment for a gynecological cancer. She was so fatigued that she was housebound. With cancer rehabilitation, she was able to overcome her fatigue and, within the same year, travel to celebrate her 90th birthday.
It’s never too late to start cancer rehabilitation.
Ready to get started? Find a location nearest you.
Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook for news about our centers and new blog posts.