Cancer affects the body significantly. The abnormal growth of cells and their spreading to the body’s different tissues can cause a lot of discomfort. Affected people experience severe symptoms like extreme fatigue, weight loss, immune system reactions, chemical imbalances, and nervous system issues. While the go-to response to cancer treatment is surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, there is one facet that most people overlook. It’s cancer rehabilitation. Cancer rehabilitation is a supportive medical care service that prevents and decreases symptoms that occur during cancer treatment. It includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy along with pain management, nutritional guidance, and psychological support. Experts say that the earlier the cancer rehab program is integrated with the treatment process the better the treatment outcomes.
The importance of starting cancer rehab early
There are many reasons why cancer rehab should start early. They include providing the much-needed physical and mental strength to the person, decreasing treatment complications, and much more.
- Physical strength- Cancer treatment takes its toll on the physical strength of the person. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause extreme fatigue, and weakness in the muscles, and lead to mobility issues. Cancer rehab helps the person build the necessary strength in the body so that they can tolerate the side effects of the treatment and achieve optimal recovery.
- Treatment-related complications- Cancer treatment is usually a prolonged affair and over time people experience stiffness in the joints, respiratory issues, and chronic pain. If the rehabilitation process is started early, it prevents these complications from worsening, providing more comfort to the patients and helping them move toward recovery faster.
- Mental and emotional wellness- Dealing with cancer can be a very traumatic experience. The long-term treatment with its side effects can be overwhelming and cause anxiety and depression. Cancer rehab includes psychological support which supports and preps the person at every step to help them deal with the situation with courage and confidence and cooperate with the treatment process.
- Immunity- Cancer patients have low immunity which increases their risk of infections and other complications. A well-structured rehab program helps enhance the immune system through treatment modalities that increase circulation, lung functioning, and the overall digestive process. This helps people put up with the treatment more effectively and recover smoothly.
- Headstart- Waiting to start cancer rehab after the treatment has been completed can only delay the overall recovery process for people dealing with cancer. Initiating the rehab program along with the treatment ensures that the person has a headstart in resuming their normal routine with fewer problems.
To sum it up cancer rehab minimizes the treatment side-effects, makes cancer patients physically and mentally stronger, and improves their chances of recovering better and going back to their normal routine as much as possible. Hence cancer rehab would rather not be considered as an afterthought but a priority if the aim is to not just fight cancer but thrive after it.
The dedicated integrative oncology rehabilitation care team at Sukino Healthcare comprises licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists to deliver a personalized approach to cancer care. They collaborate with patients to determine the most beneficial oncology rehabilitation therapies for each patient based on their unique requirements. Once the personalized treatment plan is established, we continuously monitor the patient’s progress, assess their response, and make any necessary adjustments to the program.
