Cancer Rehabilitation
Cancer rehabilitation is available for individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer even before surgery has been performed. Pre-surgery assessments may be administered to give a comparison of movements and swelling before and after surgery. At the time of the pre-surgery assessment, the individual is given a home exercise program and information on what to expect following surgery. Post-surgical assessments may be done when requested by a physician.
After surgery, individuals often complain of increased swelling, pain, scar tissue, and/or decreased range of motion of the affected area or extremity. Rehabilitation can be used to address any or all of these areas, as well as emotional issues. If these problems are not corrected, patients may experience a permanent reduction or loss of function in the affected area or extremity.
Patients can start rehabilitation at the time the diagnosis of cancer is made. (A pre-surgery assessment is helpful, and a post-operative evaluation is necessary before beginning rehabilitation). Patients with lymphedema may begin at any time after diagnosis.
The cancer rehabilitation/lymphedema program offers:
- Prevention and reduction of swelling
- Improving the use of the affected extremity
- Therapeutic massage and exercise
- Lymphedema education and treatment
- Pain reduction and control
- Scar tissue reduction
- Home exercise program
- Community resource information
