cancer rehab - 1268045

catdander
Posts:

Cancer Rehab is a term I've not heard before but when I did I was overwhelmed by the possibilities it conjured up in my imagination.

I wonder if anyone has heard of it or taken advantage of it.

http://www.oncologyrehabpartners.com/

"Oncology Rehab Partners provides hospitals and cancer centers with the tools needed to provide evidence-based, reimbursable cancer rehabilitation to survivors who suffer from debilitating side-effects caused by treatments.

Oncology Rehab Partners’ STAR Program® Certification (Survivorship Training and Rehab) provides facilities and individual clinicians with tools and systematic, proven programs to deliver excellent oncology rehabilitation care. STAR Program Certification was developed by Julie Silver, M.D., who is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, a cancer survivor and the author of several books on oncology rehabilitation, and her team of clinicians.

The STAR Program Certification include evidence-based training in oncology rehabilitation for hospital interdisciplinary teams to quickly and expertly develop superior cancer rehabilitation services. The focus is on therapy-based protocols that interdisciplinary hospital teams can use to both provide optimal clinical care and track outcomes."

Thanks in advance,
Janine

Forums

Dr West
Posts: 4735

I'm not familiar with this. There is a growing development of "survivorship" programs, to which this seems highly related, but I'd say that the term "cancer rehab" hasn't achieved a critical mass of recognition or application.

-Dr. West

catdander
Posts:

Cancer rehabilitation may not be the best term to grab onto but the term says exactly what I wish was in place. Specialists who study and train and implement strategies to get post cancer care treatment to those who have new physical and emotional limitations is like putting palliative care specialists to work in cancer centers. Looking at the ideas from my perspective seems so obvious, kind of an extension of palliative care.

cards7up
Posts: 636

Janine, I'm all for it. I even asked about some type of rehab after chemo/rads and then surgery/chemo. These treatments all do a number on the body and the lungs. Pulmonary rehab would be great, physical after radiation to help loosen up scar tissue which is an on-going problem and PT with pulmonary after surgery I think would help people heal quicker and with less long-term side effects. I realize I'll never be 30 again but since treatment, I feel like someone in their 80's sometimes instead of being just 60!!!!
Take care, Judy

Dr West
Posts: 4735

Thanks for helping to shape the idea. I can definitely see the value of something like that.

-Dr. West