Oncology Rehabilitation
The Oncology Rehabilitation Program at Good Samaritan Medical Center is designed to assist cancer patients in managing symptoms and side effects. Through various treatments, the program aims to enhance your ability to stay active, carry out daily tasks, and enhance your overall quality of life. Providing patient-centered care, the program offers treatments aimed at improving your strength, endurance, balance, flexibility, and speech/swallowing, thereby maintaining your ability to do your daily activities, improving your quality of life.
Common side effects of cancer treatments include pain; loss of range of motion; tightness; general weakness and fatigue; and impaired balance and gait. The program includes licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists.
Treatments include
- Myofascial and trigger point release
- Joint mobilization
- Neural mobilization
- Strength and endurance training
- Proprioception
- Balance
- Gait
Medical management of cancer usually includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy or a combination of those treatments. They each can have after effect that can impair your daily function or impact your return to prior level function.
Physical Therapy will help you address issues with limited ROM and pain in your shoulders post mastectomy/lumpectomy or radiation; limited strength, lack of endurance, fatigues post chemotherapy; pain and balance deficits from chemotherapy induced neuropathy.
Lymphedema prevention and treatment includes manual lymph drainage, bandaging and self-care management.
Speech Therapy will focus on issues with difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, loss of voice, and memory deficits.
Occupational Therapy will work with you on improving your upper body strength/ROM, your ability to continue to care for yourself and perform daily tasks that are important to you; such as holding/carrying things in your hands, opening up jars, etc. Occupational therapy also includes sensory re-education for neuropathic pain.