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Cancer Types

Select a cancer type for diagnosis and treatment information: Select an option... Acute Leukemias Bladder Breast Carcinoids Cervical Chronic Leukemias Colorectal Endocrine Malignancies Esophageal Gastric Head & Neck Hepatobiliary Lung Lymphoma Mast Cell Neoplasms Melanoma Merkel Cell Myelodysplastic Disorders Myeloproliferative Diseases Ovarian Pancreatic Primary CNS Neoplasms Prostate Renal Sarcomas Skin - Basal Cell Skin - Squamous Cell Testicular Thoracic Urothelial Uterine Uterine Sarcomas Vulvovaginal

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Resources & Support

Select a service/resource type for more information: Select an option... Cancer Screening Guidelines FAQ's Cancer Screening Tests Home Health Pastoral Care Rehabilitation Support Groups & Programs Survivorship

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Specialty Programs

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Select an option... Sheldon E. Goldberg Center for Breast Care Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment Gynecologic Oncology Urology

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Treatment

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Select an option... Breast Surgery Clinical Trials Diagnostic Imaging Infusion Medical Oncology Nutrition Palliative Care Plastic / Reconstructive Surgery Radiation Oncology Your Cancer Team

Cancer Rehabilitation

Cancer Rehabilitation

Who are rehabilitation specialists?
Rehabilitation specialists include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, lymphedema specialists, pelvic health therapists, and lymphedema therapists.

When do rehabilitation specialists help people with cancer?

• When you have been diagnosed with cancer
• While you are in treatment
• Once you have completed treatment for cancer

How Do Therapists Help Cancer Survivors?
Common ways rehabilitation therapists help those experiencing cancer include:

• Pre-treatment assessment and teaching
• Post-treatment assessment and teaching
• Alleviating fatigue and deconditioning
• Maintaining and improving range of motion
• Challenges performing activities of daily living and or pre-treatment activities
• Musculoskeletal or neuropathic pain
• Swallowing / speech problems
• Balance, gait, posture problems and fall prevention
• Lymphedema (swelling of a limb due to impaired lymph system)
• Cording and scar tissue
• Bowel and bladder function
• Sexual health function and comfort
• When and how to use adaptive equipment
• Weight bearing activities

How Do Therapists Help Urologic/Gynecologic Cancer Survivors?
A therapist’s role in GU and GYN cancer care is to help patients manage the changes that occur due to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and their side effects. After a bladder, bowel or pelvic surgery or radiation there can be changes to the lymph network and circulatory system. Muscles atrophy or “shrink” within 3-5 days of non-use, and often are affected during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These changes can be decreased with PT intervention strategies to insure excellent healing potential and the best functional outcomes possible.

• Alleviating fatigue and deconditioning
• Any complaints of pain, acute or chronic
• Improve any bowel or bladder concerns
• Promote muscle mobility
• Maintain and or restore bowel, bladder, and rectal function to prevent disability
• Maintain and or restore sexual functioning and prevent discomfort
• Signs of lower extremity swelling or scar tissue tightness

CalvertHealth Rehabilitation
Dunkirk - 410.257.5263
Prince Frederick - 410.535.8180
Solomons - 410.394.2838

CalvertHealth Outpatient Rehabilitation has three locations: Dunkirk, Prince Frederick and Solomons.

LEARN MORE

Resources
Cancer.Net - What is Cancer Rehabilitation
http://www.cancer.net/survivorship/rehabilitation/what-cancer-rehabilitation