Oncology Rehabilitation: Optimizing Function for Cancer Survivors

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Advances in oncology care have led to greater numbers of cancer survivors living much longer after diagnosis. Unfortunately cancer and cancer treatments can negatively impact literally every aspect of the person including physiological, physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. Additionally, long-term and sometimes persistent lingering effects decrease performance abilities and overall quality of life. Rehabilitation professionals play a key role in mitigating the effects of cancer and cancer treatments and improving outcomes. In this course, Dr. Suzänne Taylor explains how oncology clinical practice guidelines and standards support the involvement of rehabilitation from diagnosis through survivorship, advanced disease and end-of-life. She provides recommendations for the focus of therapy interventions based upon cancer treatments, anticipated physiological responses and disease state.

Meet your instructor

Suzänne Taylor PhD

Suzänne Taylor, PhD, MBA, OTR/L, has extensive experience in oncology rehabilitation including providing direct therapy interventions and presenting on state, regional, and national levels. Dr. Taylor has dedicated her career to furthering oncology rehabilitation education, research, and program development. Her clinical…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. The Need of Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors

The numbers of individuals living beyond a diagnosis of cancer continue to grow due in part to advances in cancer treatment and improved methods for earlier detection. Current estimates place the number of cancer survivors in the United States at nearly 19 million by 2024. In this chapter Dr. Taylor explains the wide range of impacts from cancer and cancer treatments and the need for ongoing health management for cancer survivors. She then discusses the need for comprehensive oncology rehabilitation programming consisting of interdisciplinary teams of oncology-trained professionals.

2. Oncology Rehabilitation and Survivorship

In this chapter Dr. Taylor explains survivorship, survivorship care plans and oncology standards of care, all of which support rehabilitation services for cancer survivors. Recognizing that there are limited numbers of comprehensive oncology rehabilitation programming, Dr. Taylor provides recommendations on how individual therapy practitioners may begin making a difference now for cancer survivors.

3. Therapy Practice in Oncology

In this chapter Dr. Taylor explains key points for therapy practitioners who practice in oncology or who provide services for cancer survivors including the importance of performance status and continued daily physical activity. Dr. Taylor also explains the risk of psychosocial disruption and oncologic emergencies.

4. Oncology Rehabilitation: Focuses Along the Continuum

Research and clinical practice guidelines support the involvement of rehabilitation in oncology from diagnosis through survivorship, advanced disease, and end-of-life. It is important for rehabilitation practitioners to understand when to shift focuses of treatment plans. In this chapter Dr. Taylor explains prehabilitation, or therapy beginning at diagnosis and prior to cancer treatments. She provides recommendations on the focus of therapy during cancer treatments, after cancer treatments have ended, and in advanced stage. She concludes this section with a case example of rehabilitation provided for an individual in advanced stage.

More courses in this series

Understanding Cancer: Foundational Knowledge for Therapists

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Cancer Treatments and Side Effects: What Therapists Need to Know

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Oncologic Emergencies: Considerations for Therapists

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