Thyroid Cancer Oncology Rehabilitation

Oncology Rehabilitation for Thyroid Cancer 

Thyroid cancer and its treatment can impact your physical functioning and overall energy levels. Because the thyroid gland plays a central role in setting your body’s metabolic rate, treatments for thyroid cancer can affect this process and cause fatigue or weight gain. In addition, because of the location of the thyroid gland, the cancer itself or some types of treatment may affect nearby vocal cords.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we offer comprehensive physical therapy and oncology rehabilitation services for our patients with thyroid cancer. At our cancer hospitals, an integrated team of speech and maassage therapists, physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) will work with you to promote a healthy lifestyle throughout your thyroid cancer treatment and beyond.

Oncology Rehabilitation Therapies

When you arrive at CTCA, our oncology rehabilitation team will conduct an initial evaluation to assess your current level of physical fitness and your ability to perform activities of daily living. Then, your rehabilitation therapist will work with you to design a plan tailored to your needs. Some of the therapies offered through our thyroid cancer oncology rehabilitation program include:

Physical Therapy

Your rehabilitation therapist will help you develop and implement a customized physical fitness regimen to help you stay strong to combat your cancer. Centered on cardiovascular fitness, strength training and flexibility, our oncology rehabilitation program can help you to increase your strength and endurance. In addition, your rehabilitation therapist will teach you strategies to reduce fatigue as you perform everyday tasks.

Speech Pathology 

Our speech pathologists are here to work with you if you have any problems with your speech, or issues with swallowing, caused by your thyroid cancer or its treatment.

Occupational Therapy

Our occupational therapists will evaluate how you interact with your day-to-day surroundings and assess your physical mobility. They can then teach you how to address, and adapt to, any physical limitations resulting from your treatment.

Scar Tissue Therapy

We can perform scar and myofascial work after surgery to decrease pain and discomfort.

Manual Therapy

Our massage therapists can help reduce your cancer-related pain and improve your quality of life throughout your treatment for thyroid cancer.

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture therapy involves the placement of very thin needles at specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of energy. This painless, non-invasive technique can help to reduce side effects from treatment, such as pain or nausea, as well as fatigue.

Auriculotherapy

Like acupuncture, auriculotherapy is a painless, noninvasive technique used to stimulate energy flow throughout the body. In this case, a device is used to stimulate specific points along the outside of the ear with a small electrical current. This may also be helpful in alleviating side effects related to your treatment for thyroid cancer.

Your oncology rehabilitation therapist will work closely with you to find the right combination of therapies to  maintain or regain your independence, build your strength and reduce stress so you will be able to participate in activities that are important to you while you undergo treatment for thyroid cancer.

Next Topic: Spiritual Support for Thyroid Cancer