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Cancer Rehabilitation Awareness Week is being observed from September 6 – 12, 2021. To honor and bring awareness to this specialty, our very own Michelle Mazzarella, PT, DPT, ATC discussed the purpose and benefits of Cancer Rehabilitation.
What Is Cancer Rehabilitation and Why Is It Important?
Cancer rehabilitation is an intervention in place to help patients with all aspects of their cancer care. It’s important because it helps people throughout the various stages of their cancer journey.
Cancer rehabilitation looks at a patient from a holistic point of view. The scope of it does not lie simply within the rehab disciplines. There is a large team available during a patient’s journey including psychosocial services, exercise science and spiritual support to name a few.
According to the American Cancer Society, 40 percent of the population will get a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Cancer rehabilitation consists of many different providers, including inpatient care, home and outpatient care. This could involve physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services.
Patients could have side effects throughout the rest of their lives and we are dedicated to helping them along that path.
What Drove You to Specialize in Cancer Rehabilitation?
I started my cancer rehabilitation education in 1995. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and started to develop some side effects from her treatments, including loss of motion and lymphedema.
I have taken various courses over the years and helped to develop Oncology Rehabilitation programs in the past (at prior clinics).
How Could Someone Benefit from Cancer Rehabilitation?
So many ways! It depends on the challenges a patient experiences during cancer treatment. This could be balance challenges, weakness, loss of motion, memory, swallowing difficulty and lymphedema, to name a few.
While Integrated Rehab does not provide services for OT or speech therapy at this time, which would cover swallowing and memory, we do have two therapists certified to treat lymphedema.
Are Specific Cancer Types Recommended for Cancer Rehabilitation?
No. Side effects from any cancer treatment can have an impact on patients that affect their overall function and quality of life. According to the American Cancer Society, there were an estimated 20,300 new cases for selected cancers* in Connecticut.
*Female Brest, Uterine Cervix, Colon & Rectum, Uterine Corpus, Leukemia, Lung & Bronchus, Melanoma of the Skin, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Prostate, Urinary Bladder Cancers
What Can You Expect from a Cancer Rehabilitation Session?
A one-on-one individualized evaluation and development of a treatment plan that will help you to reach your goals.
How Can Someone Help Support and Raise Awareness of Cancer Rehabilitation?
By spreading the word and talking with providers that are overseeing your care!
For more information on Cancer Rehabilitation, contact Michelle Mazzarella, PT, DPT, ATC at Integrated Rehab or visit the Pinc & Steel website to learn how you can support the cause.