Oncology

Almost everyone knows someone with cancer and most know someone who has died of it. Due to technological advances, research, education on environmental impacts of carcinogens and genetic testing cancer treatments are rapidly advancing leading to more and more people surviving cancer. Cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy at kicking cancer to the curb and giving people a fighting chance. Cancer treatments can add time to your life which is amazing, however, sometimes they have side effects and if those side effects affect your movement, sensation, or ability to do your work or activities of daily living then physical therapy might be able to help.

Cancer surgery sometimes are simple procedures all the way to complex life changing surgeries. In the lead up to certain surgeries it is important to improve health such as strength training, improving cardiovascular endurance, and increasing blood counts to be able to tolerate the surgery and have potentially better outcomes. After certain surgeries it is important to get moving based on your surgical protocol which typically includes movement to reduce the risk of a blood clot and being able to get in/out of bed, use the bathroom, walk and use the stairs then once your home you may have range of motion deficiencies due to the incisions, weakness due to muscles that were affected, swelling, lymphedema due to removal of lymph nodes, neurological deficits if tumors were pressing on your nervous system, pain with movement, sensory deficits or difficulty with getting back to work or your activities of daily living.

Some type of Chemo (chemotherapeutic agents) which people with cancer might get proscribed before cancer surgery (neo-adjuvant chemotherapy) or after cancer surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy). Certain classes of these such as ones that contain platinum (cispaltin), taxanes (docetaxel), vinca alkaloids (vincristine), bortezomib and others. This is more likely with multiple treatments, higher doses, and combination therapy any typically effect people more if they are older, have diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or preexisting peripheral neuropathy. If you are experiencing numbness or tingling in your hands or feet after chemotherapy treatments physical therapy may be able to help you recover that sensation. Some chemotherapy treatments can reduce your Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Hematocrit and Hemoglobin which mild to moderate exercise has been shown to increase those blood counts however exercise that is too vigorous can decrease those blood counts, so it is important to consult your Medical Oncologist before starting an exercise program while undergoing chemotherapy. Your physical therapist can work with your oncology team to help provide well rounded care.

Some types of radiation can cause a tightening of the soft tissues in that area leading to range of motion deficiencies making harder to move around performing your work or daily activities.

Lymphedema is worldwide is mostly caused by mosquito borne illness or congenital conditions called primary lymphedema however in the US cancer and cancer treatments are the more prevalent cause of lymphedema, called secondary lymphedema. With advances in cancer treatment incidences of secondary lymphedema are reducing however it is still possible when a tumor is blocking lymphatic flow or after radiation and surgery. The major areas of the body subject to lymphedema include the armpits (axillary lymph nodes) and upper extremity, the groin (inguinal lymph nodes) and lower extremities, and the head and neck (cervical lymph nodes). Upper extremity lymphedema is typically caused by targeted radiation to the axillary lymph nodes or surgery that removes some or all of them causing a backup of fluid in that arm. Lower extremity lymphedema is typically caused by targeted radiation to the inguinal lymph nodes or surgery that removes some of all of them causing a backup of fluid in that leg. Head and neck lymphedema is typically caused by targeted radiation to the neck (cervical) lymph nodes or surgery to remove some or all of them causing a backup of fluid in the head and neck. Lymphedema has several stages from barely noticeable to physically disabling and the sooner you seek treatment the easier it is to reduce the stage or maintain the stage and prevent a worsening condition. Physical therapy can help treat lymphedema with CDT (Complete Decongestive Therapy) which consists of patient education, skin and wound care, manual lymphatic drainage, exercise, starting with compression bandages in the decongestion phase and working towards fitted compression garments in the maintenance phase.

Any Path Physical Therapy is a private practice Outpatient Physical Therapy clinic in a rural area that treats as a generalist for most adult conditions in New Hampshire with special interest in Oncology, Lymphedema, Orthopedics, and Neurological Conditions. Please reach out to see if physical therapy is right for you in your battle with cancer whether your just diagnosed, recovering from surgery, or in survivorship we can do a physical therapy screen to see if physical therapy would be appropriate for you. Give Any Path Physical Therapy LLC in Weare NH a call to schedule an oncology physical therapy evaluation.

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