Cancer Rehabilitation Program

Diagnosis & Treatment

Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation

On your first visit to the Cancer Rehabilitation Program, our team will perform a thorough evaluation and develop a personalized program based on your symptoms, goals and individual needs. They will take into consideration factors such as your age, the type of cancer you have, the cancer treatment you are receiving or have received, and your lifestyle.

Cancer Rehabilitation Sessions

Cancer rehab may start while you are an inpatient and continue when you are outpatient. There are usually four stages of care:

• Preventive rehabilitation/prehabilitation: Before treatment begins, your cancer rehab team will discuss how your body normally feels and functions and then design a program that ensures you are in the best possible physical condition to begin treatment. The aim is to help prevent certain treatment-related symptoms. Preventive measures may include quitting smoking, working with a dietitian to maintain a healthy weight, undergoing psychotherapy to address any mental health concerns, and physical therapy that can help strengthen muscles and prevent falls. Participation in occupational therapy programs can help to optimize your routines, habits and functional lifestyle.
• Restorative rehabilitation: This may take place during cancer treatment to help reduce treatment-related side effects and maintain function. Services may include manual therapy techniques to help reduce pain, improve tissue mobility, decrease stiffness, and enhance scar mobility. Individualized exercise programs may be prescribed to improve mobility, flexibility, strength, cardiovascular endurance, balance, and physical function. Additional interventions may include training with mobility devices, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, cognitive retraining, compensatory strategies, and the use of external memory aids. Training in activities of daily living and energy conservation techniques to help maintain important habits, routines, and independence. Patients may also participate in supervised group exercise classes, strength and conditioning programs, and yoga sessions designed to support physical recovery, wellbeing, and quality of life throughout their cancer treatment.
• Supportive rehabilitation: This stage aims to support you during or after cancer treatment if you continue to experience symptoms. Therapy programs may continue to build on strategies or introduce new strategies for balance, strength and mobility and cognitive therapy and daily activities.
• Palliative rehabilitation: If your cancer is advanced or is no longer responding to treatment, palliative rehab aims to keep you as comfortable as possible. Palliative rehab may include gentle movement, relaxation techniques, pain management techniques and adapted self-care activities, supporting independence in daily routines, including home modifications offered in conjunction with other palliative care services.