Imagine you have just been diagnosed with cancer. A million thoughts are going through your mind. You are likely in a panic, wondering if this is something you are actually going to survive. Then, the doctor starts talking about surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Your panic grows as you wonder how you are going to manage your life going through those treatments. How are you going to work, manage the house, or manage parenting? I know, because it happened to me, and I was scared.
But what if the doctor then told you about something you could do that would have a positive impact on your life while you undergo treatments? Something that could help you prepare, both physically and emotionally for the treatment ahead. That “something” is cancer prehabilitation.
Cancer prehabilitation is a coordinated program to assess and recommend interventions designed to assist each cancer patient’s specific needs. Because cancer treatment often leads to physical and cognitive impairments, early therapeutic intervention can help minimize the impact of the cancer treatment. For example, with newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, prehabilitation helped improve their breathing and overall strength, making surgery easier and with fewer post-operative complications.
Depending on the type of cancer, and the type of treatment to be delivered, different exercises and suggestions may be provided. For example, walking or swimming and general strengthening exercises are always good. For head and neck cancer survivors, specific exercises for swallowing and voice may be needed. Similarly, men with prostate cancer may benefit from “pelvic floor” exercises to address urinary incontinence issues. Breast cancer survivors may need education on lymphedema therapy. Brain cancer survivors may need more suggestions and recommendations related to speech and cognition.
Prehabilitation programs also offer interventions and recommendations for what is casually called “chemo brain.” The fancy name for this is “cancer related cognitive impairment.” This is when cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy experience mental fogginess, forgetfulness, reduced concentration, difficulty “finding words” and/or general slowness in their thinking. In a prehabilitation program, a speech therapist will provide suggestions of tasks and strategies to keep one’s cognitive skills as strong as they can be through this time.
At Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, we have a team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists to address both the physical and cognitive concerns associated with cancer treatment. In addition, we offer education and insight about relaxation techniques, stress management and how to create a healthier lifestyle in support of a patient’s healing.
If you are diagnosed with any type of cancer, please ask your oncologist about a prehabilitation program. In her book, “Before and After Cancer Treatment,” Julie K. Silver, M.D. says, “It can help you get as strong as possible – physically and emotionally – before you begin treatment.” As a therapist with 30 years of experience, I wish I had known more about the consequences of chemo and the benefits of prehabilitation. I learned first-hand about muscle weakness, slower thinking and reduced endurance. Help yourself and consider prehabilitation as a critical piece of your cancer recovery program. QCBN
Erin Aafedt, M.A. C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Erin Aafedt, M.A. C.C.C.-S.L.P. is a speech language pathologist.
Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital is a 44-bed, free-standing rehabilitation hospital that provides intensive physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, and other disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic conditions. The hospital is consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationally by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR). Mountain Valley also provides in-home skilled nursing and therapy services through our home health agency, Mountain Valley Home for Health, and out-patient therapy services in our 10,000 square foot therapy gym that includes a therapeutic pool.
For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com.
3700 N. Windsong Drive • Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 • 928-758-8800 • mvrrh.ernesthealth.com