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Why Cancer Rehab?

How can cancer rehabilitation help?

Rehabilitation can help your body recover from cancer and its treatment. Increases in physical activity, weight management, and strength training may reduce your risk of recurrence also. Additional details about the benefits of cancer rehabilitation can be found at https://www.livestrong.org/we-can-help/healthy-living-after-treatment/rehabilitation-after-cancer. We are also here to help you answer questions, locate a community provider, and increase our understanding of risk factors (what increases one’s risk for developing cancer related side effects) and interventions to reduce symptoms.

The Impacts of Cancer and its Treatment

It is not uncommon to have side effects related to cancer or its treatment. Side effects can occur immediately with treatment (acute), present during treatment and continue after treatment (long), or present after treatment (late).  Each side effect can drastically change your function and quality of life. A recent article from US News and World Report in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center reported the following information about most frequently reported cancer related side effects.

  • Acute leukemia: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (19.1 percent), memory loss (14.7 percent), migraine headaches (10.3 percent), and heart problems (10.3 percent).
  • Bladder: Information on the most frequent types of health problems in survivors of bladder cancer is not available at this time. Discuss your own situation with your doctor.
  • Breast: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (37.6 percent), cataracts (19.1 percent), heart problems (15.3 percent), and thyroid problems(11.1 percent).
  • Chronic leukemia: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were cataracts (18 percent), arthritis/osteoporosis (18 percent), frequent infections (15 percent), and heart problems (15 percent).
  • Colorectal: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (22 percent), cataracts (19 percent), heart problems (15 percent), and hearing loss (14 percent).
  • Gastrointestinal: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were heart problems (19 percent), cataracts (17 percent), arthritis/osteoporosis (17 percent), memory loss (15 percent).
  • Genitourinary: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were urinary (22 percent), arthritis/osteoporosis (18 percent), heart problems (17 percent), cataracts (15 percent).
  • Gynecologic: The four most frequently reported types of health problems reported by survivors of gynecologic cancers were arthritis/osteoporosis (31 percent), urinary (19 percent), cataracts (16 percent), and heart problems (13 percent).
  • Head and neck: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (21 percent), cataracts (19 percent), thyroid (17 percent), and heart problems (14 percent).
  • Hodgkin’s disease: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were thyroid (34 percent), heart problems (26 percent), arthritis/osteoporosis (14 percent), lung (10 percent).
  • Kidney: Information on the most frequently reported types of health problems is not available at this time. Discuss your individual situation with your doctor.
  • Lung: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (24 percent), heart problems (18 percent), cataracts (18 percent), hearing loss (17 percent).
  • Lymphoma: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (25 percent), cataracts (21 percent), heart problems (18 percent), and memory loss (15 percent).
  • Melanoma: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were cataracts (14 percent), heart problems (12 percent), arthritis/osteoporosis (11 percent), hearing loss (10 percent).
  • Prostate: Information on the most frequently reported types of health problems is not available at this time. Discuss your individual situation with your doctor.
  • Sarcoma: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (24 percent), heart problems (18 percent), circulation (12 percent), hearing loss (10 percent).
  • Thyroid: The four most frequently reported types of health problems were arthritis/osteoporosis (27 percent), cataracts (13 percent), heart problems (13 percent), hearing loss (9 percent).

Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-conditions/cancer/information-on-surviving-cancer/overview

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