Oncology Rehabilitation: Assessment & Plan
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Rehabilitation assessment
Upon your arrival at CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center and prior to your cancer treatment, you may meet with a rehabilitation therapist for a thorough physical evaluation on the recommendation of your oncologist and based on your needs.
Part of this initial evaluation consists of a functional assessment, in which your rehabilitation therapist measures your ability to move about safely and to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). For example, your rehabilitation therapist will rate your functional status using a scale of 0 to 5 (with 0 meaning cancer has not restricted a patient’s activity). This helps gauge the content and direction of your individualized rehab program.
Rehabiliation plan
Based on the assessment, you and your rehabilitation therapist will work together to develop a plan that is goal-oriented with well-defined outcomes.
Your rehabilitation plan will be tailored to your individual needs. It may include therapeutic exercises and neuromuscular training, as well as cardiovascular, flexibility and strength training and therapeutic activities that impact ADLs.
“Here, patients are at the center of their treatment, and that includes oncology rehabilitation. The Oncology Rehabilitation Program at CTCA is person-centered in a way that is changing the delivery of health care services,” says Eckhardt.
Throughout your cancer treatment, your rehabilitation therapist will work closely with you to complement your traditional cancer treatments with rehabilitation therapies. The goal is to minimize cancer-related fatigue and to optimize your physical function and safety.
Your rehabilitation therapist will help you find the level of exercise that works for you. For instance, during treatment, you may only be able to perform light exercise. Once treatment is complete, you may need to give your body some time to recover before beginning moderate exercise. Your individualized program aims to help you maintain the best regimen to keep you fit.