What is oncology rehabilitation?
Oncologic rehabilitation is a program designed to help people with cancer recover both physical and emotional well-being. Oncology rehabilitation can be done before, during and at the end of cancer treatment.
Oncological rehabilitation allows a faster and better recovery, which means an important improvement in the quality of life of the cancer patient. In this line, a personalized work plan is developed for each patient according to his or her capabilities and emotional and physical sequelae.
Why is oncological rehabilitation performed?
Oncological rehabilitation is carried out with the aim of helping people with cancer to improve their quality of life, improving their physical and emotional well-being.
Apart from helping, rehabilitation allows people affected by cancer to have greater confidence, a reduction in the signs of pain and a moral and physical improvement.
What does oncological rehabilitation consist of?
Oncological rehabilitation is recommended in all cancer treatment processes. As such, the treatment is directed in the direction of prevention and rehabilitation.
We speak of prevention when measures are taken to prevent the development or appearance of disabling sequelae, regardless of the prognosis of the disease and life.
When a diagnosis of cancer is made, before starting treatment, the patient will be subjected to a series of guidelines, such as the education and exercise program that will allow him to improve his condition, as well as raise awareness and inform him of possible sequelae that the disease could cause him.
In chronic or recovering patients, rehabilitation may also be indicated with the aim of improving treatment-related conditions and improving the state of their immune system. Some of the benefits provided by oncological rehabilitation are:
- Improved physical strength
- Improvement of the fatigue produced by the disease.
- Decreased hospitalization
- Increased independence in daily activities
- Cognitive improvement
During rehabilitation, different techniques will be used, such as manual lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy, lymphedema, physical exercise, speech therapy… In this line, various fields of physiotherapy, speech therapists, specialists in pain control, occupational therapy… are also involved. In the same line, we intervene in the management and control of oncological pain, cardiovascular health, osteoporosis…
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Preparation for oncologic rehabilitation
No special preparation is necessary to undergo this treatment. It is simply necessary for the specialist to know the patient’s medical history, paying special attention to all the diagnoses and treatments he/she has received during the course of treatment.
Once the patient’s general state of health is known, he/she will be subjected to a series of physical and mental exercises before the surgical or medical treatment, which will allow him/her to understand his/her condition and better manage his/her situation.
Care after oncological rehabilitation
As such, oncological rehabilitation seeks to improve the patient’s general condition and the way he/she copes with the disease. Thus, it is not necessary to carry out exhaustive care after rehabilitation, but the rehabilitation itself will be in charge of making the patient improve in the control and perception of the problem.
Are there alternatives to oncologic rehabilitation?
Oncological rehabilitation is a recent treatment for the improvement of cancer symptoms. Its evolution over the years has been very positive.
As alternatives, in the event that cancer pain does not subside in any way, morphine can be used as part of palliative care.