Cancer has long been associated with excruciating pain and suffering and the condition is a powerful stirrer of multiple negative emotions.

The battle with cancer is a long fight. But remember, modern- day research in the field of Cancer rehabilitation and treatment, has found a myriad of solutions to put up a brave fight against the condition along with oncology occupational therapy. We wish to fight along with you through our oncology physical therapy. Cancer rehabilitation is a significant part of overcoming its consequences. Our rehabilitation clinic in Chennai offers an array of programs that include solutions in the form of breast cancer rehabilitation, lung cancer rehabilitation and more.

Patients with cancer have physical and cognitive problems due to cancer itself or due to radiation or chemotherapy. Some of them being

  • Brain tumors and spinal cord tumors that are discussed in brain injury and spinal cord injury sections respectively
  • Radiation-induced cognitive impairment – As the name suggests, cognitive dysfunction can be noted in patients undergoing radiation and it’s dose-dependency
  • Transient radiation myelopathy – This is a condition where there is damage to spinal cord due to radiation therapy. It is reversible and starts anywhere between 1-30 months after the radiation has started
  • Delayed radiation myelopathy – This condition is also radiation-induced damage to spinal cord but starts much later and the condition is irreversible
  • Peripheral neuropathy – It is a condition, which affects multiple peripheral nerves due to cancer or it could be due to chemotherapy (particularly platinum-based agents, taxol agents or vinca alkaloid agents) or radiation therapy
  • Myopathies such as dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or steroid-induced myopathy – myopathies are conditions, which cause damage to the muscles. It could be because of steroids that are used for cancer treatment, or an autoimmune condition (when immune system malfunctions and attacks your own body cells) causing damage to the muscles
  • Lymphedema – A condition which is characterized by swelling of the arm with a sense of fullness and it’s a frequent complication of breast cancer
  • Metastasis to the bone (cancer spread to the bone), osteoporosis (bone thinning), fractures – Commonly seen in breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate, thyroid and kidney cancer

SYMPTOMS AND MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS

Collectively these conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms and complications such as

  • Fatigue
  • Severe pain
  • Burning sensation, tingling, and numbness of the arms and/or legs
  • Weakness of the muscles of the arms and/or legs
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Poor endurance
  • The above symptoms can affect someone’s ability to walk and perform day-to-day activities independently, which can cause depression and anxiety and significantly worsen their quality of life

Expectations of Recovery

The Treatment duration depends on the nature and severity of the condition. Cancer rehabilitation treatment can be done in a lot of ways. For patients who are considered to be in remission or cancer free, full recovery is often possible. For patients with physical limitations the goal is to provide functional independence despite their limitations and integrate them back into the community (i.e. return to school, return to college, return to household work, return to employment etc). For patients who are actively undergoing cancer treatment, rehabilitation can be helpful to reduce their symptoms. Studies have shown that cancer rehabilitation helps patients to be more compliant with cancer treatment because they are physically and mentally stronger to participate in such treatments, which can decrease cancer-related morbidity and mortality. For patients whose cancer is progressing, and have physical limitations, the goal is to provide them with means to have as much independence as possible with daily activities, reduce symptoms and keep them comfortable using methods described above.