Cancer rehabilitation for nursing students

1. CANCER REHABILITATION

2. • Cancer treatment may affect physical, social,
psychological, and work-related abilities.
Rehabilitation helps people regain these abilities
and maintain independence.
• Cancer rehabilitation is a program that helps
people with cancer maintain and restore physical
and emotional well-being.

3. GOALS
• Improve physical strength.
• Increase self-care ability.
• Adjust to actual, perceived, and potential losses.
• Reduce anxiety and depression.
• Manage symptoms of cancer and its treatment.
• Reduce hospital stays.

4. Cancer rehabilitation services
• Patient and family education and counselling
• Pain treatment
• Nutrition counselling
• Exercise programs
• Support to quit smoking & alcoholism

5. Cancer rehabilitation team
• Oncologist
• Physiatrist
• Rehabilitation nurse
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Dietitian
• Recreation therapist
• Lymphedema therapist
• Psychologist and psychiatrist
• Social worker
• Chaplain
• Speech language therapist

6. • Oncologist. This doctor treats cancer. An oncologist may lead
the cancer rehabilitation team.
• Physiatrist. Also called a rehabilitation specialist, this doctor
treats injuries and illnesses that affect how people move and
function. Treatment may include pain management.
• Rehabilitation nurse. This professional helps people regain
physical abilities. Services may also include education and
counselling.
• Physical therapist. This professional helps patients improve
physical strength and ability to move. Physical therapists may
also help with some types of pain.

7. • Occupational therapist. This professional provides methods and tools
to increase function, comfort, and safety. Occupational therapists design
a therapy plan specific to each patient. The plan is based on the layout
of a home, school, or work place. Occupational therapists also teach
methods to reduce effort for certain tasks. This helps patients manage
fatigue and other limitations.
• Lymphedema therapist. Lymphedema is fluid build-up from damage
to lymph nodes. A certified lymphedema therapist can help manage this
condition. Techniques include compression garments, specialized
massages, bandaging methods, and exercises.

8. • Recreational therapist. This professional uses games,
exercise, arts, crafts, or music. The goal is to reduce stress,
anxiety, and depression. People build confidence and
strengthen personal skills through these activities.
• Dietitian. A dietician may:
Help patients understand their special dietary needs.
Recommend diets or meal plans based on your cancer
treatment.
Monitor body weight and changing dietary needs.

9. • Mental health professionals. These may include
psychologists and psychiatrists, among others. They
address emotional, psychological, and behavioural
needs. Such needs may be longstanding. Or they stem
from the challenges of cancer and its treatment.
Mental health professionals teach patients ways to
cope with difficult circumstances. Psychiatrists are
certified to prescribe medication.

10. • Social worker. This professional provides a variety of
services, including:
• Counseling in the transition from the hospital to home. An
example is providing home care.
• Helping with coping skills and lifestyle changes.
• Leading support groups.
• Helping address financial concerns.
• Linking patients and families to community resources.

11. • Vocational counsellor. This professional helps people
find and keep satisfying jobs. Some patients’ physical or
emotional changes may require a job change. In these
cases, a vocational counsellor can help.
• Clergy member or chaplain. This professional may offer
the following services:
Provide spiritual support
Perform religious rituals
Lead support groups
Give comfort in health crises

12. • Speech-language pathologist (SLP). This professional
specializes in communication and swallowing disorders.
Swallowing disorders may result from treatment for head and
neck cancers. An SLP helps patients regain oral motor skills.
An SLP may also help patients with cognitive problems
improve memory and organization skills.

13. REHABILITATION INTERVENTIONS
• Therapeutic exercises
• Therapeutic modalities:
o application of heat- superficial heat
[ surface tissues] and deep heat[ muscles
and tendons]
o cold : crytherapy for acute trauma and
inflammation
o elctrotherapy : transcuntaneous electric nerve
stimulation [TENS] is a most common form of
electroanalgesia to controll pain

14. • Orthotics and prosthetics:
o A wheeled walker
o Ankle foot orthotics to prevent foot drop
o Knee immobilizers
• Non pharmacologic pain management
o The primary goal of this approach is to limit the
impact of pain on function and minimize
disability and also benefit patients who may not
tolerate medicines well.

15. o Psychological aspects: hypnotherapy, guided
imagery, deep breathing techniques
o Physical therapy: to improve muscle strength
as well as improve joint ROM
o Physical modalities: heat, cold, electrotherapy
o Aerobic exercises: for improving mental and
physical outlook
o Splinting and assistive devices for weight
bearing
o Complementary therapies: acupunture,
massage therapy ect.