Cancer Rehabilitation
Cancer rehab is about improving the lives of people affected by cancer.
Many cancers and their treatment can take a big toll on your body. Normally treatments advised from your oncologists involve one or a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone treatments.
Through this time, you may experience side effects that make returning to work and activities of daily living more of a challenge. As well as trying to manage fatigue, trying to take care of others, knocking your confidence back and challenging you mentally.
Cancer rehabilitation can help you through this journey, it’s about having someone there each step of the way, holding your hand and guiding you through this difficult period of life.
Who Can Participate In Cancer Rehab?
Anyone who has experienced some form of cancer through their life can do rehab. From the newly diagnosed, to people ongoing treatment to clients 25+ years after their initial cancer diagnosis.
Depending on what type of cancer you have you may need surgery. After this you may undergo other cancer treatments such as chemo and or radiation. By the time this is all over and if all is well, your Dr will be pleased to tell you that you are cleared to go back to work and resume your normal activities but ‘normal’ may look a little different to you now.
This might feel a bit daunting at first, you may be thinking, ‘but how do I prevent this from happening again’. The answer to this is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and this will look different on everyone.
Whether your desire is getting back to work, returning to sport/activities, gardening, getting rid of aches and pains, starting exercise again or playing with the children/ grandchildren. We can help you aim towards these goals by regaining your strength and confidence.
It’s important that you get the support you deserve from close friends, family and your medical and allied health team.
How Can A Cancer Trained Physiotherapist Help?
Your cancer physiotherapist can help overcome specific conditions related to your breast cancer treatments and help manage side effects.
Some specific conditions include
- AWS (cording)
- Post op issues such as joint and muscles inflammation, range of motion limitations and pain
- Scar thickening
- CIPN (chemo induced peripheral neuropathy)
- Muscle deconditioning
- Shoulder bursitis
- Compensatory injuries and postural pain
- Rotator cuff dysfunction
- Shoulder girdle pain
- Pelvic floor dysfunction and weakness
- Abdominal wall weakness
- Fatigue conditions
- Upper and Low back pain
Read more about Cancer Rehab for breast cancer patients here
Have a question for the phyx. team?
- Although a referral is not required for private clients, if you have one, please still bring it.
- Any relevant scans (we may refer you for scans if required).
- We usually need to expose the area requiring treatment. Please wear loose comfortable clothing.
Attire – Wear comfortable clothing that you can move around in. Usually tights or loose comfortable clothing. Please, no crop tops.
Hydrate – So we can reduce the waste of disposable plastic cups, please bring your own water bottle. We have a filter tap you can use.
Hygiene – Pilates grips socks for hygiene and safety. If you would like to bring your own reformer mat, you may.
We have ample free parking on site.
For private clients, no referral is required. For DVA, workcover claims, 3rd party insurance claims and Medicare EPC, then a referral from your doctor is required.
Yes. We have onsite Hicaps facilities so you are able to claim your rebate on the day. Please remember to bring your card with you.
Our approach to Pilates is from a physiotherapy view point. Our focus is on working hard, mindfully and with correct technique and breathing.
During your initial appointment we will cover all or some of the following:
- Get to know you, any injuries that we need to consider, your goals.
- Correct Pilates Breathing.
- Posture – How to adopt the correct posture in standing, side lye, on your back and in sitting.
- Core education – Ensuring correct technique and determining its baseline strength (TA and Pelvic floor).
- Neutral spine – What is neutral spine, its importance and determining your neutral.
