Cancer treatment can be physically demanding and may cause pain, fatigue, weakness and other side effects that impact your daily life. Cancer rehabilitation is dedicated to helping people restore function, improve mobility and regain independence during and after cancer treatment.
Through personalized rehabilitation services, the goal is to minimize the side effects of treatment and help you achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Who is on the cancer rehabilitation team?
Your care is provided by a multidisciplinary team that works together to support your recovery. Depending on your needs, your team may include:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Registered dietitians
- Social workers
Each member of your care team provides specialized expertise, guidance, education and support throughout your rehabilitation journey.
What will my rehabilitation plan look like?
No two rehabilitation plans are the same. Your cancer rehabilitation team will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan based on your symptoms, abilities and goals.
Your plan may focus on helping you:
- Increase strength and endurance
- Improve energy levels
- Manage pain and discomfort
- Improve balance and mobility
- Reduce treatment-related symptoms
- Restore independence in daily activities
- Enhance your overall quality of life
Is cancer rehabilitation covered by insurance?
Most cancer rehabilitation services are covered by health insurance plans. If you have questions about your specific coverage, please contact your insurance provider directly.
What symptoms can cancer rehabilitation help with?
Cancer rehabilitation can help address many of the physical and cognitive effects of cancer treatment. You may benefit if you are experiencing:
- Joint or muscle pain
- Headaches
- Swelling (lymphedema)
- Weakness
- Difficulty walking or moving around
- Balance problems or frequent falls
- Difficulty getting to the bathroom
- Challenges with dressing, bathing or other self-care activities
- Difficulty completing household chores or shopping
- Trouble driving
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet (neuropathy)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cancer-related fatigue that limits daily activities
- Problems with concentration, thinking or memory ("chemo brain")
- Difficulty returning to work or performing job responsibilities
If these symptoms are affecting your daily life, talk with your cancer care provider about whether cancer rehabilitation is right for you. Your care team can help determine whether these services are available and connect you with the appropriate resources.