Cancer rehabilitation

Our cancer rehab program requires a physician's order. During your first appointment, a rehab therapist will evaluate your physical abilities and challenges. You will also have an opportunity to address your concerns and work with us to establish goals and create a personalized rehab plan. Throughout cancer rehab, you will work with our rehab therapists to achieve your goals and improve your quality of life.

Our therapists are compassionate and understand the unique challenges of complicated treatment schedules. They will work with you to tailor a personalized rehab plan.

Our cancer-focused rehab team offers one-on-one physical, occupational therapy and speech language pathology sessions to help you achieve your goals while providing support and education to your caregivers. Our individualized rehab plans may involve a range of specialized therapies. Here are examples of what each therapy treats:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy enhances physical function by improving:

• Dizziness
• Endurance
• Fatigue
• Balance
• Pain
• Range of motion
• Sensation changes
• Soft tissue mobility
• Strength
• Walking
• Weakness

Occupational Therapy:

Occupational therapy improves fine motor skills and ability to perform activities of daily living by enhancing:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Household duties
• Mobility
• Range of motion
• Safety
• Sensation changes
• Strength
• Wheelchair fitting

Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-language pathology enhances cognition, communication and safety by improving:

• “Chemobrain”
• Memory
• Problem-solving
• Reasoning
• Swallowing
• Voice concerns

Pelvic Floor (may be PT or OT)

Pelvic floor therapy normalizes bladder, bowel and sexual function by improving:

• Constipation
• Pain
• Incontinence
• Tightness

Lymphedema (May be PT or OT)

Lymphedema reduces lymphatic swelling through:

• Compression garments
• Exercise
• Pumping
• Wrapping

The cancer wellness program provides tools and resources to support overall well-being. A key goal is to provide a personalized functional exercise plan to meet you where you are. Functional exercise will help maintain your activities of daily living. It also helps fight fatigue and enhance quality of life. Wellness can provide community and virtual resources for specific guidance. These may include yoga, surgery recovery, palliative care, and support resources.

Our cancer wellness YouTube channel has videos discussing exercise, nutrition and symptom management. These resources help support all patients and their caregivers.

Sarah Cannon Cancer Institutes at HCA Midwest Health are accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) as quality programs. This means our hospitals exceed the quality care standards set out by the CoC and consistently provide excellence in patient-centered care.