Cancer Rehabilitation

---

Life-saving cancer treatment can affect energy, emotions, activity levels and so much more. Cancer rehabilitation helps patients combat fatigue, pain, weakness and limited mobility and reclaim a more active lifestyle.

Tailored Exercise Plans
Lutheran Hospital's cancer rehabilitation program, the first of its kind in the area, is part of a survivorship program for cancer patients. Once a patient is referred, therapists specially trained in cancer rehab develop a tailored, medically based exercise plan to meet the unique needs of each patient. Plans are designed to improve energy, strength and endurance and can benefit patients at any stage of treatment or recovery.

Positive Impact
Cancer rehab can have a positive impact on patients before, during or after cancer treatment. Studies show that cancer rehab patients have fewer side effects, more energy, better preservation of normal daily activity and a more positive mental outlook.

Key benefits may include:

• Decreased:
  • anxiety, stress and depression
  • pain
  • fatigue
  • muscle wasting
  • risk of heart disease
  • dependency on others
• Improved:
  • physical function
  • quality of life
  • self-esteem
  • tolerance of chemotherapy medications
  • immune system
  • social interactions

Call Lutheran Hospital's outpatient rehabilitation at (260) 435-6143 for additional information. A physician referral is required.

Sources

Lanni, T.B., Brown, E., Kuwajerwala, N., Stromberg, J., Gustafson, G., Wood, R., Parzuchowski, J., Akhtar, A. Implementation of an Oncology Exercise and Wellness Rehabilitation Program to Enhance Survivorship: The Beaumont Health System Experience. The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology. 12.3 (2014): 87-91.

Ligibel JA, Denlinger CS. New NCCN Guidelines for Survivorship Care. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2013;11(5 Suppl):640-644.

Giovannucci EL. Physical Activity as a Standard Cancer Treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012;104(11):797-799. doi:10.1093/jnci/djs229.

Speck RM, Gross CR, Hormes JM, et al. Changes in the Body Image and Relationship Scale Following a One-Year Strength Training Trial for Breast Cancer Survivors with or at Risk for Lymphedema. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010;121(2):421-430. doi:10.1007/s10549-009-0550-7.