Launching the First-Ever Cancer Rehabilitation Month
Did you know June is National Cancer Rehabilitation Month? If you didn’t, that’s probably because this June is the very first observance – thanks to the hard work of people like Cascade Health’s Andréa Leiserowitz, DPT, CLT. As a board-certified oncological physical therapist, she helps patients with the impact of a cancer diagnosis. As a board member of the American Physical Therapy (APTA) Oncology Academy, she’s been on the ground floor of efforts to raise awareness of and improve access to comprehensive, cancer-specific rehab services.
Breaking New Ground in Cancer Care Awareness
Since December, Dr. Leiserowitz has been working alongside a dedicated team of APTA Oncology members and Select Medical personnel toward this month’s June launch. The timing is intentional, coinciding with National Cancer Survivors Month to amplify the message that surviving cancer is just the beginning of the journey.
"A cancer diagnosis changes everything," notes the APTA. "Treatment can be life-saving, but often comes with lasting side effects. That's where cancer rehabilitation comes in."
Breaking New Ground in Cancer Care Awareness
Since December, Dr. Leiserowitz has been working alongside a dedicated team of APTA Oncology members and Select Medical personnel toward this month’s June launch. The timing is intentional, coinciding with National Cancer Survivors Month to amplify the message that surviving cancer is just the beginning of the journey.
"A cancer diagnosis changes everything," notes the APTA. "Treatment can be life-saving, but often comes with lasting side effects. That's where cancer rehabilitation comes in."
The Hidden Side of Cancer Treatment
What many people don’t realize is that even cancer treatment success stories come with a web of potential side effects that can persist long after the last chemotherapy or radiation session. Pain, swelling, lymphedema, fatigue and limited range of motion are just some of the challenges patients face – challenges that specialized rehabilitation can address.
Physical therapy and other rehabilitation disciplines work to ameliorate the negative effects of necessary, life-saving treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy.
Building a Comprehensive Support System
Cancer rehabilitation isn't a one-person job. A patient's cancer rehab team can consist of physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, dietitians, mental health professionals and more – specialists who understand the unique challenges of managing cancer's side effects.
Dr. Leiserowitz emphasizes what she calls the "four pillars" of reducing cancer risk and recurrence: appropriate exercise, nutrition, adequate restorative sleep and mental health strategies. Staying at a healthy weight, engaging in comprehensive exercise, avoiding processed foods and getting enough hydration and protein don't just combat cancer and its reoccurrence – they also help prevent heart disease and diabetes and improve organ function, fatigue and overall fitness.
The Reality of Complex Cases
Many patients have more than one type of cancer simultaneously, rare cancers, unusual side effects, or stage 4 disease – and when a simple or complicated medical situation is exacerbated by the side effects of cancer or cancer treatment, debilitation, depression and anxiety are common. Pain, swelling, lymphedema, chemo-induced neuropathy , fatigue and a limited range of motion can all be addressed – something that too few patients realize in the US and around the world. These issues are best addressed preemptively or immediately post-surgery, but cancer specialized rehab specialists often don’t get timely patient referrals until years or even decades after a cancer diagnosis and treatments. “Patients routinely say, ‘why didn’t I know about this earlier?’” Dr. Leiserowitz says. “Our emphasis should be on prevention, early detection, management and surveillance to improve quality of life and function”.
Changing the Conversation
This is precisely what Cancer Rehabilitation Month aims to change. The APTA's mission is clear: "to maximize movement and wellness across the lifespan of children and adults affected by cancer and chronic illness." Living well with and after cancer requires more than just oncology – it demands a multidisciplinary approach that addresses the full spectrum of treatment-related challenges.
Greater awareness means patients are more likely to seek out and utilize treatments like the physical therapy Cascade Health provides. Dr. Leiserowitz wants people to come across a Cancer Rehab Month event, bracelet, or social media post and ask, “What’s that? Could I still benefit from those services/is it too late for me?” – the simple answer is that it’s usually not too late to benefit from rehab services.
For the thousands of cancer patients and survivors who could benefit from rehabilitation services they never knew existed, Cancer Rehabilitation Month represents hope, healing and the promise of a better quality of life – not just surviving but thriving. Thanks to advocates like Dr. Leiserowitz, that promise is becoming a reality.
Find out more about Cascade Health’s oncologic physical therapy program here.